WayneS

A few months ago, one of my cousins died. He lived a few hours away from me, but he was at my wedding, and sat next to me at my grandmas funeral. Though I wanted to attend his funeral, I couldn’t. However, many of my good relatives were there. This is something I thought about while at my family Christmas gathering.



I’m not looking forward to Christmas. Most of my family will be scattered all over Great Britain, but those who live nearby haven’t invited my wife and I to spend Christmas Day with them. We will probably spend Christmas together in our flat, as we did last year.

Last month, I attended a training course so I’d be able to volunteer for a national organisation based near to where I live, which helps people whose friends or relatives have been killed in road collisions. Part of that training course consisted of attendees listening to stories more upsetting than anything to which I’ve responded in chat. While hearing the stories in quick succession, I contemplated not volunteering for the organisation. I thought listening to the experiences of bereaved people may be too distressing.

I decided however, that I should volunteer for the organisation. How ever difficult it may be for me to be confronted with horrible bereavement stories, it is more difficult for the people who knew those for whom they are grieving. My experiences can end when I finish speaking to the people who tell me about their bereavement, but it doesn’t end for them.

Christmas is a difficult time for people who are bereaved. I can manage my emotions. Though I am saddened by my losses, I can handle them. Though my Christmas won’t be fantastic, there are people for whom Christmas will be a lot worse. Rather than focus on the losses I have experienced or how rubbish Christmas is for me, I can help other people get through Christmas. Christmas will still not be brilliant for them, but they may feel better after receiving support from me or other volunteers.

You could be those other volunteers. Regardless of how good your Christmas will be, try during the Christmas season, to set aside some time to help other people have a better Christmas. More than anything else, helping people is what I am looking forward to doing this Christmas.