Blessed & Curvy

The Monday before Christmas holds a special kind of magic—and mayhem. It's that unique day when holiday anticipation collides with last-minute reality checks, creating a festive and frantic atmosphere. The Scene Around Us Walking through our neighborhoods, we see homes twinkling with lights, while cars zip past loaded with hidden treasures. The malls are buzzing with determined shoppers, lists in hand, hunting for those final perfect gifts. Coffee shops are filled with people seeking liquid energy to fuel their holiday missions. The Last-Minute Rush This Monday holds a mirror to all of us: The procrastinators finally facing their gift lists The planners check their final details The dreamers still hoping to create that perfect holiday moment The realists just trying to make it through the week Finding Peace in the Chaos Yet amid the rush, there's beauty in this moment. It's in the smile of a stranger who holds the door while you juggle shopping bags. It's i...

The holiday season can feel overwhelming when you're grieving. The twinkling lights, cheerful carols, and festive gatherings that once brought joy might now feel like painful reminders of who's missing from your celebration. But I want you to know something important: your grief is valid, and there's no "right" way to experience Christmas during loss. Here are some gentle strategies to help you navigate this season: 1. Acknowledge Your Feelings Your emotions are real and important. Some moments you might feel sad, others angry, and sometimes unexpectedly peaceful. Allow yourself to feel without judgment. Grief isn't linear, and Christmas won't magically erase your pain. 2. Create New Traditions While honoring past memories, consider creating new rituals that feel meaningful. This might mean: - Lighting a memorial candle - Sharing stories about your loved one - Doing an activity they enjoyed - Making a photo album or memory box 3. Set Boundaries It's ok...

I stopped putting up a Christmas tree the year after my mother passed. Christmas was her favorite holiday, it was went she knew all her children were going to come home or call her. She was busy cooking in the kitchen all of our favorite dishes, making sure the house was decorated and the tree was lit. I had taken my mother to the hospital for what we thought was going to be something simple, she would get medication and come home. I had ordered her gifts that were under the tree, I had thought she must have pneumonia because they are keeping her. She would be home in time for Christmas and what we learned was she wasn’t coming home this trip but she was dying.  As a caregiver you’re so focused on the love one that you have their schedule memorized, have the doctor’s phone numbers programmed into the phone, and you’re on alert. I had no control over this situation and it felt like it was in warp speed. When the dust settled she was gone, a piece of me was lai...