Sunday Sentiments: Grieving and Celebrating

 

A few weeks ago on the Saturday Suggestions, I shared a resource from Jennie Allen about reflecting on 2024 and planning for 2025. I have started working through it, and though I have a long way to go, the very first page pushed my mind to think heavily over the past year.

            She asked two questions. What things do I grieve from 2024…and what things do I celebrate?

            My grief list was long, though not as long as the celebration list. Still, I made room in my mind, heart, and list to grieve the losses of things that didn’t go as I dreamed. Do we always make enough room for those kinds of losses? Sure, we think of grieving the losses of people or things that were dear to us, but it’s also okay to grieve the disappointment of an experience that didn’t go as we hoped or planned. It’s okay to grieve the death of a dream.

            Grieving doesn’t mean life is over or ruined. It simply acknowledges a hurt and offers room for healing and reframing. A chance to walk ahead, even if we’re on a different-looking road than we thought we would walk.

            You know what my favorite thing was about that whole exercise? I loved simply being asked what I grieved. It wasn’t an in-person, out-loud conversation, but it was as meaningful as if it had been one. She asked me what I grieved and provided time and space to document the answer.

            Sometimes that’s one of the best things we can do for grief anyway. Simply asking people how they feel and then giving them the space, time, and freedom to answer honestly.

            I moved on to the celebration list and enjoyed recounting the beautiful gifts that found their way into this year. I celebrated the craved and prayed-for answers as fully as I celebrated the complete surprises that popped up in the year.

            Listing the things that went right and well filled my heart with extra joy, and I loved having an extra little praise party right there in that moment.

            We have just a week and a half left in this year. Take a few minutes to grieve and celebrate the hard and the wonderful of 2024. You might just be surprised at how much it helps your mind and heart!