Health – Page 36 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

Finding Holiday Joy Amid Grief

The holiday season can evoke sadness for those grieving loved ones, making joy elusive. Grief can linger from recent or past losses, affecting celebrations. Acknowledging feelings is crucial, as is reaching out to grieving friends. Comfort is essential during this difficult time, reminding us that support and connection matter.

updated December 12, 2025

Although this season brings fun and festivities, many of us find it hard to feel joyful when our hearts are heavy with grief.

Whether from a recent loss, or one many years ago, grieving for the loved ones who won’t be here to celebrate with us can dampen our holiday spirit and lead to depression.

I think of my friend who has lost both a sister and a son this year.
I remember my friends who tragically lost their teenage daughter in a car wreck just a few days before Christmas many years ago.
I consider my medical colleague who is battling cancer.
My heart aches for my friends who lost a young aunt to an undiagnosed medical condition that suddenly proved fatal.
I’m sad for my friends and their children who will spend their first Christmas after a divorce.
And my husband and I still grieve the loss of our parents and siblings at Christmas even after many years.

As one friend wrote-

“This is my second Christmas without my husband. It has been tough, but also a reminder that God is the god of all comfort. That works for me. And… it is a reminder to pray comfort to anyone who has faced a loss of a loved one including precious pets. Loss from any source needs a comforting friend.”

If you know someone who needs a “comforting friend”, please take the time to reach out to them so they know someone cares and they are not alone.

What to say to grieving people.

“Honestly, the most painful thing is when you’ve had a loss and someone around you—because of the awkwardness — never acknowledges it. That’s what hurts the most.”
Nancy Guthrie

Coping with grief and loss during the holidays

“Grief is not a tidy, orderly process, and there is no right way to grieve. Every person—and every family—does it differently. This can cause emotions to collide and overlap, especially during the holiday season when the emphasis is on rebirth and renewal.”

Harvard Health

man and woman in front of the Alamo at Christmas — My husband and I at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas at Christmas

My family and I wish you all health and wholeness in body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Aletha

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Expert Advice to Conquer Holiday Stress

Magazine articles, television programs, and music playlists tell us that this is “the most wonderful time of the year.” That is until the extra work of shopping, cooking, decorating, wrapping, planning, and entertaining makes it the least wonderful time. While most of us welcome the chance to celebrate with family and friends, sometimes those encounters…

Keep reading

Simple Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating

Holiday traditions often involve special foods and beverages, posing challenges for individuals managing medical conditions like diabetes, food allergies, and obesity. Emphasizing mindfulness in eating and understanding personal dietary restrictions can alleviate holiday stress and enhance enjoyment.

Keep reading

Forever Honoring Our Veterans

Veterans Day on November 11 honors all who served in the U.S. armed forces. The Veterans Administration provides crucial health care and education through the VHA system. Personal stories highlight the deep bonds between veterans and their families. Meets a wounded veteran’s therapy dog serving as his best man at his wedding.

updated November 4, 2024

In the United States, we reserve Veterans Day, November 11, the Armistice of World War I, to remember and honor all who do or have served in our armed forces. Other countries have similar observances.

The Veterans Administration provides benefits to veterans including health care. The VA Health Care System, or VHA, one of the largest in the world, cares for veterans’ health and provides medical education and research.

If you have ever received care from a physician trained in the United States, that doctor likely learned from a veteran in a VHA facility. So our veterans continue to serve even after they leave military service.

The *Vietnam Women’s Memorial* was established to honor the 265,000 military and civilian *women* who served around the world during the *Vietnam* War. photo by Dr. Aletha

Wounded Veteran’s Therapy Dog Serves as Best Man at Wedding

I believe your heart will be touched by this story about the special relationship between a wounded veteran and his therapy dog. Mine certainly was.

“It’s been quite a journey for U.S. Army veteran Justin Lansford and his canine companion, Gabe.

In 2012, Lansford lost his left leg in an IED explosion in Afghanistan.

This past weekend, Gabe had his paws full with an entirely new slew of responsibilities, serving as the best man in Lansford’s wedding to longtime girlfriend, Carol Balmes.”

My husband served in the Army and was deployed to Vietnam in the 1970s. Here is his story.

From bullets to blessings-one man’s journey to recovery from war

“I didn’t want to ever go to Vietnam again when I came home in 1972 after a one-year tour of duty with the United States Army. I was stationed with the Americal Division, 3/18 Field Artillery Battalion near Tra Bong, a major village located about 25 miles west of Chu Lai, the headquarters of the Americal Division, on “China Beach” at the South China Sea.”

Raymond and I at the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Washington, DC

Memorial Day at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Angel Fire, New Mexico–

a special Memorial Day observance at a unique veterans’ memorial

statue of a soldier in a small flower bed — Doug Scott Sculpture at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial,Angel Fire New Mexico; I am kneeling in the background, viewing the veterans’ memorial walkway; Photo by Raymond Oglesby

A veteran dishes out love–

personal reflections from a Vietnam veteran

“The people around us are starving for love and we need to unlock our pantry and see to it that everybody gets a belly full.”

clowns entertain Vietnamese people — Billy and Jingles, a veteran and his wife, entertain at a medical clinic in Vietnam
(photo by Dr. Aletha)

sharing the HEART of respect and gratitude for those who served

Please share this post and leave a comment as a tribute to a veteran you love and admire. This post was featured on

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.