Not So Sweet—Where have all the Twinkies gone?

Death is never a pretty thing, especially if it’s the death of a Hostess Twinkie.

It’s a sad day as we bid farewell to the iconic snack many of us grew up on. But alas life goes on.

The closing of Hostess means 18,000 people will lose their jobs, and loss is always a bitter pill to swallow, coming in both concrete and abstract forms. Concrete losses are easy to identify: death, divorce, job loss, but abstract losses are often more difficult to identify and put words to.

What does all this have to do with Twinkies and Ding Dongs? Everything. The loss of the Twinkie reminds us that everything we love will someday slip through our fingers. Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and as news reports on the closing of the Hostess brand flooded the media it’s evident that people are serious about their love for the Twinkie.

For me, no more Hostess products represent the loss of an era. I have fond memories of traveling to the Wonder Bread store with my dad loading up on the tasty treats. The white powdered donuts were a favorite for my kids at grandma’s house.

You may not be grieving the loss of the Twinkie, but you may be grieving the loss of something else: shattered dreams, unmet expectations, loss of trust, hope, a role loss. If so, here are a few suggestions to navigate through the sadness:

Notice what’s happening to your heart

You can’t change what you don’t notice, and noticing begins by slowing down and paying attention to what’s going on in your heart. Are you sad, angry, hurt or depressed? If so, what is the source and origin of your pain?

Identify your loss

As previously noted, concrete losses are easy to identify, but abstract losses can be less visible, buried beneath the conscious surface. Bring them into your awareness by making a list of all the relational and abstract losses you have incurred. Use the aforementioned list as a starting point.

Put words to your feelings

Now that you’ve identified your losses, put feeling words to them. This will help access your emotional responses to your losses and help with the grief process.

Let go of what you can’t change

Many of us have a tendency to live in the past with “if only” thinking. We can’t change the past, so we must repent, make amends where we can and move on. Beating ourselves up for things we can’t change is unproductive.

Realize you are in a battle for your heart

Loss puts you front and center into a battlefield—your heart is what’s up for grabs so you’ll want to prepare by choosing the right armor. Scripture tells us what to do in Ephesians 6:11.

Think bigger picture

To recover from the losses of life you have to think bigger picture. Find your passion. Get excited and step out and try something new.

It’s over for Twinkies, but it’s never too late to begin your grief journey, even if you’ve buried your losses for years. Start today by paying attention to your heart.

Back at you: How have you dealt with the losses of life?