The holidays can be complicated once life changes — the kids are grown, the marriage has ended, or the people we used to gather with are no longer around the table. What once felt like a season of family chaos and joy can suddenly feel quiet, lonely, or uncertain.

In this episode of Second Wind with Joyce Buford, Joyce explores how to rediscover meaning and connection during the holidays after life’s big transitions — whether it’s an empty nest, a divorce, or simply shifting roles. She shares practical and soulful ways to reclaim joy: creating new rituals, redefining family, and finding gratitude in the space that change brings.

Joyce is joined by women who have walked this same emotional terrain — learning to navigate the nostalgia, honor what was, and embrace what’s next. Together, they explore how to reframe the holidays as a season of renewal rather than loss.

Because the truth is, when the wrapping paper and expectations are gone, what’s left is the opportunity to create a holiday that fits who you are now.