Holding Space for Those Who Find the Holidays Hard

The holidays are often wrapped in sparkle and cheer — but for many, they also carry a quiet ache.

Behind the festive lights and family photos, some people are facing change, missing someone, or simply finding it hard to keep up the joy everyone else seems to be feeling.

If that’s you, or someone you love, this is a gentle reminder: it’s okay to find this season difficult.

Not Everyone Feels Merry — and That’s Okay

Between the music, the adverts, and the social pressure to be merry, December can magnify feelings of loneliness or loss. It might be your first Christmas without someone you love. Maybe life looks very different this year — new circumstances, distance, or quiet struggles that others can’t see.

Whatever your reason, you’re not broken for feeling out of sync with the celebrations around you. The truth is, the holidays can hold both joy and pain — they can coexist in the same moment, and that’s perfectly human.

Small Acts of Kindness Make the Difference

If someone you care about seems withdrawn or not themselves, you don’t need grand gestures to show support.

What helps most is presence — the kind that says, I see you. I’m here. You don’t have to pretend.

You might:

• Send a simple message that doesn’t expect a reply
• Drop off a gingerbread latte or a comforting snack
• Invite them for a quiet walk instead of a party
• Respect if they say no, without taking it personally

Sometimes the most powerful gift we can give isn’t wrapped — it’s our time and our willingness to listen without trying to fix things.

Creating Gentle Moments

If you’re the one struggling, give yourself permission to slow down and create a softer version of the holidays.

You don’t have to attend every event or match anyone else’s pace. Maybe your “festive season” involves lighting a candle for someone you miss, spending time in nature, or doing one small thing that brings you peace.

Kindness counts, especially the kind you offer to yourself.

A Season for Compassion

The magic of the holidays doesn’t just live in presents or parties — it lives in connection. In the quiet understanding between friends. In the compassion we show to those who are finding it hard. And in remembering that love doesn’t disappear just because things look different this year.

So, this season, let’s hold space — for the joy, the pain, and everything in between. Because sometimes, just knowing we’re not alone is the greatest comfort of all.