The holidays are often wrapped in sparkle, celebration, and family gatherings. But for many people—especially women navigating divorce, healing from emotional abuse, or rebuilding life after trauma—this time of year brings something very different:

Loneliness.
Silence.
Grief.
Triggering memories.
And a sense of not belonging anywhere.

The holidays have a way of magnifying everything—our joy, our stress, our expectations… and yes, our loneliness. If you’re going through a divorce or navigating your first holiday season without your kids, the emptiness can feel louder than the Christmas music in every store.