222 - Being Single During the Holidays (Replay)

If you're listening around the time this publishes, it's the holiday season—and if you're single, loneliness may be hitting hard.

You're not alone. I recently asked single people with disabilities about their holiday feelings. Their responses: wondering why they're still single, missing loved ones, wanting someone to cuddle by the fire with. I remember feeling that same loneliness for years, watching family and friends build their own families.

These feelings are human and understandable. This episode explores how to cope with them—and how to use them to your advantage.

Acknowledge How You Feel

When loneliness and longing strike, simply acknowledging them can help enormously. You might resist: "Why admit sadness about being alone?" But facing your feelings creates emotional release. You stop pretending they don't exist, stop pushing them down.

Remember: an emotion is part of you, not all of you. Don't fear being overwhelmed—most emotions, when fully felt, last only about 90 seconds. And don't judge yourself for having them. Be gentle with yourself. Self-judgment on top of hard emotions only makes things worse.

Use How You Feel for Fuel

Looking back at my single years, I did something crucial: I used my loneliness to motivate myself to keep taking risks, keep dating, keep trying to meet someone.

I wanted that vision—waking up with my own family, cuddling by the fire. (Reality check: my husband and I barely use our fireplace because it's so much work.)

How can you take your struggle this season and channel it toward your own vision? Let that longing propel you forward.