I lost my much-loved dad a few years back and while I feel that I've dealt with my grief, I can't ignore the gaping hole in our family that's evident especially when we do our holiday traditions without him. But the holidays should be a happy time -- not a time to dwell on what we've lost.

If you're feeling sad or alone this holiday season, please read this article from eDiets. It's a good reminder that though grief is all around us, love and joy are all around us too. our loved ones would want us to be happy at this time of year, and if we let ourselves feel their love, we can be. For me, I talk about those I've loved and lost. I look at old photos. I cry, yes, but I feel their presence more when I do, and that gives me a sense of peace.

How do you cope with the holidays?