This year, as has been said millions of times, is unlike any other. We are dealing with something that we’ve never dealt with before. We are living through times where we have no idea of what will happen during the day we are living in, let alone what the next day will bring. We’re having more people die than what usually die. We’re losing loved ones and able to fully mourn them because of this pandemic. Many of us, airing on the side of caution, are not with our families this year but doing things separately. We are experiencing things that we never thought we would and yet we try to figure out how to handle mourning the loved ones we lost.

This year has been difficult for me on a number of fronts. The least of which is dealing with the loss of two family members. I lost one of my favorite cousins this April and I lost my Aunt just days before Thanksgiving. Unfortunately I was unable to be present for either of their funerals or to grieve with my family because of the restrictions related to Covid-19. There are countless people out there like me. Having people they know and love die and all they can do is mourn from a distance. It’s one of the hardest things to do in this current climate. It makes you hard pressed to find peace, happiness or joy. hard to get in a mindset to have Thankful mind.

For so long the start of the holiday season usually signals the easing of tensions for most. A majority tend to find their better angels and behave accordingly. Often times, people are looking to be more generous and kind, and while all those things are present this year, there is definitely a fatigue and exhaustion from dealing with the effects of this pandemic. People have lost their jobs and haven’t found one to replace it. People have gotten sick and didn’t have money to get appropriate healthcare. People are watching loved ones struggle and continue to struggle with no real end in sight. Hungry and some homeless this holiday season isn’t one that makes it easy to say Give Thanks.

Then you really to remember what being Thankful means. You have to really sit and consider your own life and whether there are things in it that you are grateful for. If you have family that is living that you have a relationship with. If you have children that are in touch with you. If you have friends that you lean on and laugh with. If you have a job or career that you can still go to. If you have your own peace when you walk into your place that you rest your head, then you have reasons to give thanks. If you are able to do everything on and for yourself then you need to give thanks. Those blessings are things that you can’t take for granted either.

It’s hard to do but it’s something that needs to be done. Find that warmth, find that love and find that care and peace. Please remember that we’re all going through challenges and the more we can show the love and be the love that we want to receive. Only then we can try to mourn and recover together. Peace, love and blessings to all.