For many of us, the holidays are full of joy and love. However, holidays where grief and sadness dominate are also a reality for many, yet far less discussed. As the holiday season approaches, Maryellen wants to talk about grief. She hopes this episode sheds light on all the different faces of grief, and how, even during the most wonderful time of year, it’s okay not to be okay. This episode highlights:   Holidays without a loved one  How people grieve more than death   Grieving differences in family dynamics, and the reality of our expectations    How holidays are ripe with traditions and pressure to be in the holiday spirit, which can trigger people   What to do with our grief   That grief needs time   How, if we ignore our feelings, they don’t go away, but instead come out in different ways    That grief looks different for everyone    How, often people grieving want to be alone, but the number one thing we need when grieving is other people    Common symptoms of grief    That it’s okay to distract yourself from grief, too  How grief is so much more complicated than just the 5 stages commonly identified  If you haven’t already, please follow, rate, and review the podcast, and follow your host on Instagram @maryellendance. To submit questions or stories, send her a DM! Plus, be sure to check out maryellendance.com for more resources.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.