Rediscover Meaning

Written by Barb Greenberg, excerpt from Rediscovering the Holidays

When we think of holidays, it is often vibrant visions of Christmas that appear: mouth watering meals, laughter, singing, and family gathered around a Christmas tree lovingly decorated with ornaments twinkling with special memories.

I have to confess that being Jewish, our family Christmas eve tradition was going to a movie and then out for Chinese food, so clearly my deep emotional connection is not to Christmas. For me the rich traditions of Passover are most intricately woven into my heart, including the mouth watering meals, laughter, singing, and a Passover table lovingly set with my grandmother’s dishes gleaming with special memories.

Whatever the holiday, divorce can make you feel as if a wrecking ball has demolished a landmark building you thought would withstand the test of time and leaves you with one more thing to grieve. When the dust settles you have the opportunity to rebuild this space, but trying to recreate what once had been, feels forced and false.

How do you find what feels true and honest? How do you find a way to honor the past and still move forward? The process begins with reevaluating what the holiday means to you on a spiritual level. As you grow and change, the message of the holiday will develop and deepen, and you always have the opportunity to reflect and reevaluate it’s significance.  Print out the Rediscover Meaning – Questions for Reflection.