An 'Unhappy' Thanksgiving: Embracing Gratitude Amidst Grief

What if Thanksgiving doesn't have to be a full-throttle, joy-filled celebration? What if it's okay to shuffle the traditions, to feel a little less than festive, especially when you're wrestling with grief or loneliness? 

This episode is a heart-to-heart conversation, acknowledging that it's absolutely fine to have an 'Unhappy' Thanksgiving. 

We challenge the idea that gratitude must be monumental, instead, inviting you to celebrate the seemingly small things you are grateful for. And above all, we remind you that love is still very much alive.

As always, Widow Your Way ❤️

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey friends, I know it's been a while, but don't
worry, I'll be back soon.
But I wanted to take a momentto say happy Thanksgiving, even
though some may not be so happy,and I wanted to let you know
that it's okay to have anunhappy Thanksgiving.
If you are forcing yourself toput a smile on your face and

(00:24):
pretend everything is okay, butfeeling miserable inside, don't
go.
If sitting at home alone andcrying is going to make you feel
even more miserable, then go.
But what if you feel both?
These are not your only options.

(00:46):
I want you to take a moment tothink about what's going to make
you the happiest onThanksgiving.
Do that instead Change thingsup to something different.
Right now I'm having an unhappyThanksgiving this year, but one

(01:08):
thing that I thought wouldbring me joy is helping my son
celebrate his first Thanksgivingin his new home, with him
actually cooking his own turkey.
I'm going to be showing him howto make my husband Tom's
favorite dishes, so that way hecan start making his own

(01:29):
Thanksgiving traditions.
I know it's hard sometimes forwidows to find joy in the
holiday season, especially ifyou're a new widow.
But take it from a seasonedwidow Look for something that
brings you joy.
It's there deep down.
You're probably even thinkingabout it right now, but you're

(01:54):
just too scared to say it outloud or you probably even feel
bad for just thinking it.
Don't do that instead.
So, to end this, I'm just goingto ask you to tell me three
things that you're grateful for.
I'll wait.
It's okay if you didn't get tothree.

(02:24):
It's okay if you only had one.
I remember when I first startedthinking about what I was
grateful for.
Sometimes I just couldn't getpast one thing, and then I felt
horrible because, gosh, how canI only find one thing in this
entire world to be grateful for?
And then it would be somethingsilly like coffee.

(02:48):
But that's okay.
Being grateful doesn't alwayshave to be about big, important
things in life.
Sometimes it can just be asimple cup of coffee.
So for me, this year forThanksgiving, I am grateful to

(03:10):
be alive.
I am grateful to have the loveand support of my family and my
friends, but most of all, in aworld of so many uncertainties
in life, I am grateful that loveis not dead.
It's just my husband.