Up until last year, I always worked straight through the holidays. Starting in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, restaurants get extremely busy and customers get very intense. Even if I managed to get a few shifts off, I felt very run down. This led to guilt because as an only child who is also a support system, if I’m not on my game then there’s not much celebration.
For the 2020 holidays, my boyfriend and I (both only children) made separate holiday dinners for our parents. His mom was staying in LA and she is a very early riser, so we had Thanksgiving and Christmas lunch with her before driving over to my parents and having a late Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner with them.
I was really grateful to be able to put together two sets of holidays, but ultimately double holidays is a lot. I also committed to making biscotti for my entire extended family to save money on presents, which took a lot more time then I estimated.
This year, my boyfriend will be in Chicago with his mom for Christmas and I’ll be in LA with my parents. I may fly to Chicago after Christmas and see the family I have there, but it’s all up in the air. Right now I’m adjusting to what will likely be a small and mellow Christmas. I’m welcoming in the space to reflect and close the year with intention, instead of crashing into January 1st sleep deprived with a blurry memory of the holidays. During those blurry years I often wished I had something to anchor me, a way to pace myself and a structured way to take stock.
Let’s just say I leaned a little too heavily on the advent calendar for moral support.
This year, I’m taking the last four Fridays to wind down, process the year and open the gateway to the new year with all of you.
Today’s prompt is about clearing the way with small actions. This time of year can be very maximalist. Maybe you’re working round the clock or trying to make it to as many holiday parties as possible, or going hard with the gift search for friends and family.
I love the idea of this kind of holiday season and communal celebration is a huge part of this time of year, but overstuffing the calendar can easily lead to burn out.
In nature, trees let go of their vibrant leaves and animals slow their heart rates and lower their body heat. There is something intrinsically grounding about heeding nature’s rhythms.
While we don’t need to fully enter hibernation, what can we do to create space and leave room for rest?
What expectations can you let go of?
Are there a few key experiences you can set your sights on, so you can enter them with focus and intention?
Do you need to set boundaries now, either with family or letting friends know you’re going to take it easy this year?
This opens up your bandwidth to really enjoy the things you choose to take part in. Maybe you dive in fully but decide to pull back, you can adjust your speed at any time!
By closing the year on your terms, you set yourself up for a smooth entry into 2022.
I’m excited to intentionally ride out the year here with you. I’d love to hear your past or present holiday experiences or ways you’re committing to creating space this year—comment below!
Also, a quick note: if you’d like to get A Guide to Self Guided Meditation for either yourself or a loved one this season, you can order here now! Gift wrapping is available! Use your subscribers code EGG for 20% off :)
xx
James