Good Grief Charlie Brown

It’s ok to feel sad during the holidays

Feeling overwhelmed? Sad? Lonely in the crowd?

It’s ok if the holidays are less than joyful. You are not alone.

In the spirit of Charlie Brown and his perfectly imperfect Christmas tree, I wish you good grief.

Charles’ Schultz’s cartoon character Charlie Brown is such an icon, but I remember him best from the Charlie Brown Christmas Special on TV every winter. The expression “Good Grief Charlie Brown!” was immortalized by Lucy’s dismay at Charlie’s subdued demeanor.

There’s something about weary, forlorn characters like Charlie Brown, and Eyore in the classic Winnie the Pooh cartoon, that I’ve always appreciated. That feeling of a heavy heart is something we all have to overcome at times, and the reality is that festive holidays can be hard on us.

Christmas can be overwhelming in the expectations we have for ourselves and others to do “everything”. Christmas can also create profound reminders of distance and loss when we’re not able to get together with friends and family that are dear to us. It’s particularly hard when we are grieving the loss of family and friends that are no longer with us.

If you find yourself weary of the festivities, I wish you “good” grief. Not in the sense that Lucy expressed it, but in the sense that we are allowed (and need!) to give ourselves time to grieve, and to feel all of the emotions that can pop up at this time of year. That it is ok to feel sad and weary. It is ok to hold space for each other’s sadness as much as we hold space for each other’s joy. And it’s ok if the holidays are less than perfect. Scale things back. Give yourself time to rest and recharge.