Holding Space for Grief: Mother’s Day

Any holiday has the potential to hold our greatest moments of joy. The early morning Christmases with packages filled with memories that won’t tear or rust in the way that other gifts nestled around the tree will. Thanksgiving turkeys aren’t the only things being carved into - as each mind and heart is forever impacted by shared meals and shared love.

With the same force, the holidays that bring some so much joy - can give others that much pain. The reason is because grief is birthed out of love. Only when we love so deeply do we create the potential for a magnitude of loss.

This mother’s day, you might feel the hole that is grief much more poignantly. At times this hole is small enough for you to walk around it and not be bothered, and at other times this hole is large enough to swallow you whole. Whatever the reason may be…

Perhaps your mother has passed away and you wish you could share this day with her.

Perhaps you do not or did not have a good relationship with your mother, and you’re having mixed emotions.

Maybe you have a longing to be a mother and this day reminds you of the children you wish were in your arms.

Maybe this day reminds you of children you have lost.

There are so many reasons why this day is filled with sorrow and pain. No matter the reason, you are allowed to step back and care for you. Maybe caring for you means:

• Logging out of social media for a week

• Writing a letter to the mom that you miss

• Journaling

• Letting yourself cry

• Reaching out to someone you trust

• Validate your emotions rather than rejecting them

The list goes on. Rather than denying yourself the space to grieve, lean into it and tend to your own self.

In closing, I want to leave you with a guided meditation that can help you create that safe space:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFTlNrNfsRw&t=254s