What brings you holiday joy?
The joy of the holidays was erased from my brain around 12 when my mom got sick. Then my parents got divorced and we lost our house. My mom was in and out of the hospital and my sister and I were staying with family and friends. Within four years my mother had passed away and I was at boarding school.
Since that time, the holidays have been bittersweet and have never been my favorite time of year -- almost like I don't have the muscles to know how to make it so damn "joyful."
However, the universe decided to give me a holiday gift as my son was born on Christmas Day. My husband and I have decided to make the day all about my son and his birthday, with Christmas decorations sprinkled in. We hope he will remember that we made the day about him and that we let him decide how he wants to spend it each year.
Even with this time of year being bittersweet for me, I want him to have happy memories and fun experiences of this time of his life -- even if it is hard for me.
Is this a time of joy for you? Or does it make you feel burnt out trying to do it all and be everything for everyone? Stressed, resentful, and drained? If it isn't a time of joy for you, then it may be a time to pause -- because we may be doing all the things for all the wrong reasons.
Pausing can be magical. It can allow you to take moments of quiet and decide how you want to show up these next few weeks. Who do you want to be, and how do you want your family to remember this time in a way that also brings YOU joy?
Can you create happy, magical family moments and get time to rest and reflect?
Maybe you don't have to make 10 dozen cookies.
Maybe you don't have to have the same meal you always make (less time making it perfect might mean more meaningful moments).
Maybe you can find ways to have more quality time instead of the perfect Instagram view of your holiday.
It might not be my favorite time of year, but I love being intentional about how I want to spend this time of year AND get the rest and reflection time that I need. For example, we decided that over the holiday we are going to look back on 2024 as a family and write down all the good things that happened as a jump start to 2025. Starting in 2025 we are going to get out the "Good Things" jar and start writing them AS they happen.
How do you truly want to spend the next few weeks?
Have a wonderful holiday with friends and family, full of joy!
Three Takeaways:
What is ONE thing you can do to take care of yourself this month?
What can you decide NOT to do?
What thing that you THINK you have to do for someone can you decide not to?
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