By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Grief is a difficult subject in any holiday season. It may be even more difficult when being alone may be the right decision. When you are able to communicate, by phone or Zoom or some other means, do so.
"Name the hurt," said chaplain Cindy Dubovich with Hospice and Homecare of Reno County. "It's okay to name it. Don't let it be the elephant in the room of not mentioning your loved one's name. Name them and be able to have those memories and share those memories of all the relationship, all those different things you've been able to do."
The time looking toward the holiday may actually be harder.
"These days, these weeks, leading up to Christmas, may be as hard or harder than the actual day," Dubovich said. "People are anticipating and knowing its coming. They are already becoming anxious and more aware of the hurt."
For those who have lost someone to COVID, or simply lost the traditions by which they remember the ones who have gone before, this year could be particularly hard.
"COVID has additional grief stressors, because of the inability for families to be with their loved ones in many cases," Dubovich said. "The inability to have time with them. If they're in nursing home situations, they may be allowed in most, late into the patient's life, as they are much closer to death. That's additional angst and hurt and anger."
If you know someone who has lost someone, reach out and give them a chance to remember that they are not alone and that you remember their loved one, too.