Uncertainty, grief, and the holidays
Finding courage and grace through grief and uncertainty this holiday season.
The holiday season often arrives wrapped in expectations of joy and certainty. This year, it feels different.
There’s an uncertainty I’m carrying—about navigating the days ahead without my dad, about what’s next in both my personal and professional life, and, at times, about myself. Grief has a way of shaking the ground beneath you, surfacing questions you didn’t expect to ask and timelines you didn’t plan to reconsider.
What I’m learning is that uncertainty doesn’t mean weakness. Sometimes it signals growth. Sometimes it means honoring what was while making space for what is still unfolding. Showing up when the path isn’t clear requires a quiet kind of courage.
As this season continues, I’m choosing grace over pressure, reflection over perfection, and faith over fear. For anyone else moving through the holidays with unanswered questions—you’re not alone. It’s okay to take things one steady step at a time.
Kandise Finley is a registered nurse and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Nursing at Northwest Florida State College, dedicated to educating future nurses. Her extensive career spans roles in oncology, emergency medical care, and teaching at multiple institutions. Beyond her professional work, she's achieved a remarkable personal transformation, losing over 200 pounds, which enriches her teaching approach…
