New Year’s Day, 2025. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the thought of starting yet another year without them is daunting. You may feel like they are getting further and further away from you. Memories can become like crumbs of something delicious that you once enjoyed, but you know it’s all gone. The more time that passes, the more you may struggle to search for crumbs that you may have missed, a card or a photo that you haven’t seen in ages, something that brings back the memories of a story you’ve forgotten.
Treasured crumbs. Some are tender, still fresh to the taste, and are like a soothing salve to ease the broken heart and mind. Others may be bitter, and can stick in your throat, making it feel like you’re unable to breathe.
Yet, crumbs can sustain you, if only for awhile. Perhaps until you are ready to take a bite of something new. Something delicious, prepared with love just for you. Something you can really sink your teeth into.
Even as the 7th year without Colton comes to an end, and another year lures me away from my precious crumbs, I keep moving forward. For me, there is no other option. I treat myself with kindness when I feel the need to follow my trail of crumbs, even though at times they lead me down a slippery slope. I smile and am truly grateful when I find new delicious things that leave delicious new crumbs for me to enjoy.
I know I’m not alone in my search for crumbs, for we all have them. Remnants of our loved ones, photos of them smiling and healthy, frozen in a moment that has long passed. A funny story or that thing they used to say that always made us laugh. We carry those crumbs with us, to sustain us on our journey.
So, my wish for this New Year is this:
Continue to hold your precious crumbs near, but, be open to the thought of biting into something new and delicious this year. Something that leaves delicious new crumbs that will nourish and sustain you in the year ahead. I wish you all the best that 2025 will bring.
Nancy,