As I reflected on celebrating this holiday season in our “new normal,” Whatever that is, I had to acknowledge that the most effective way to navigate this time is through a mindfulness-based practice that I frequently utilize and teach.
It’s the [extremely uncomfortable] practice of holding opposing thoughts and feelings simultaneously.
The big ones that came up for me this year are….
Trauma AND Thanksgiving:
The history behind the Thanksgiving Holiday, like most US holidays, is complicated at best. The Indigenous people in this country suffered an extremely traumatic experience of genocide, brutality, and oppression. As a Black woman, who is a descendant of enslaved Africans brought to this country, this deeply resonates with me. I acknowledge and recognize the historical trauma that persists hundreds of years later.
AND
This day symbolizes a day to give thanks. A day to honor and recognize the people who have contributed significantly to our lives. A day to gather (hopefully physically distant this year) and celebrate the things we are thankful for. A day to remind us of the importance of saying “Thank You” for the big and the small.
Grief AND Gratitude:
To date, 1.43 Million people have died from COVID, disproportionately impacting Indigenous and Black communities. Millions of people have lost their loved ones, their jobs, their homes, their sense of security. And we get to grieve all of that. We get to be sad, we get to be angry, we get to be in denial, because that Is what grief looks like and it is a normal and human response to loss. Big and small.
AND
In all of that loss, we can find something to be grateful for. We woke up this morning, the weather in GA is beautiful today, you’re able to read this post, ANYTHING. Gratitude is a powerful, mood shifting emotion. Sometimes it feels impossible to find something to be grateful for, but the more you practice it, the more things you notice.
The holidays this year will be different, for obvious reasons, and I also encourage you to honor the feelings you have without trying to fit them into a box. Just because the world is yelling BE GRATEFUL today, doesn’t mean that is the only feeling you are allowed to have.
So practice Mindfulness:
Acknowledge and Honor BOTH or ALL the feels.
Give each part (feeling) what it needs.
Choose how you want to show up (or not) today and all throughout this holiday season.
Know that it is okay to NOT celebrate today or any other holiday.
If you are located in the state of Georgia* and interested in starting your mindfulness journey, you can follow any of the steps below.
1. Contact us to schedule your first appointment and learn more about our services.
2. Review our Meet Us pages to learn more about our trauma trained providers.
3. Review our FAQs page to learn more about therapy at our center.
We look forward to being a part of your healing journey.
*Dr. Marcuetta Sims also sees clients in other states. Check her bio to learn more.