Happy Holidays?

As we are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to find time to take a minute and just BREATHE. Whether you celebrate specific holidays with loved ones or not, the sheer amount of activity during this time of year, as well as the coverage of holiday celebrations, can be overwhelming. It feels like we are constantly bombarded with things that we need to do or buy, people we need to see, and memories we should be making. There is this theme of joy and merriment which tends to feel like an expectation, maybe even an obligation.

What if you don’t feel joy right now? What if you’re barely hanging in there? What if you just survived the hardest year of your life or are missing someone more than you can stand? What if you can barely get out of bed, let alone engage in all the sights and sounds of the holiday season that’s being thrust upon you?

When your insides don’t match the environment around you, you can feel detached or like something is wrong with you. I want to ask you to look for those moments of peace amidst the chaos, the quiet that can cut through the noise. Slow down this fast-paced season and just take a deep breath, look down at your feet, and be where you are in that moment.

Wherever you are in your life right now figuratively, please know that you are not alone, that your feelings and experiences are valid, and that you do not owe anyone a specific version of yourself based on the calendar. Try to have some grace for yourself in just being because that alone is worth celebration, which can look any way you want it to.