feel like celebrating. give yourself permission to be less than “joyful” all the time.
communicate. talk with friends and family members a few days before you see them. let them know how you are feeling and that you would like their understanding. since it is likely that not everyone you know will respond the same way, spend a moment to consider how much you want to share and how much a given person will be able to hear.
plan ahead. don’t hesitate to ask for what you need. most often family and friends want to help, but they may not know how, or what to say. they may be relieved if you 