Charyn Pfeuffer: As an orphan, the holidays are hard. Here’s how I cope.

The key to healing, I’ve found, seems to be self-compassion. During the holidays, I take extra measures to be kind to myself. I love more, forgive more, exercise more, volunteer more. I go to the ocean whenever possible; water always brings me calm and clarity. I cut myself some slack. I surround myself with people I care about and ask for help when I need it. If for those six dreaded weeks I simply manage to pay my bills, that’s good enough. Some years are better than others, but the emptiness of being an orphan never fades.

When I feel alone, I find solace in knowing that my collective losses may have diminished me at times, but they didn’t destroy me. source