I don’t think I’ve ever anticipated the holiday’s as much as I am this year. I mean don’t get me wrong, I’m a holiday fanatic every year, but this year I’m creating new traditions with my boyfriend so there’s so much I look forward to sharing with him and new memories I’m looking forward to creating. The holiday’s are a time of year where I feel much more in sync with the world around me, it’s the one time of year where I feel we are all most connected. We are for the most part practicing the same traditions, have the same hopes, dreams, and goals and we are even dealing with the same feelings of loss and have familial relationships that are strained. While we may not know one another personally, you better believe that somewhere out there , there is someone feeling exactly how you feel, and doing the same things your family does around this time each year. For me, these commonalities are a comforting thought especially when at this time in our nation, there is so much that divides us.
For a couple of months between November and December we are collectively thinking about what we’ll be giving to our loved ones to show we care. We’ll all be pretty much preparing the same kinds of foods that comforts us, we may even have the same stresses about that family member we just don’t jive with and hoping we can get through the season without it coming to blows! Perhaps there’s some of us who are worrying about how they’ll get through the holidays after having lost a loved one; even in that scenario you are NOT alone and I hope you feel the comfort of knowing that although it may feel lonely you are sharing that pain with many people across the country and there is just something about feeling connected in the disconnection that pain provides that reiterates we are all sharing the experience of being human and no matter where you are in that experience there is someone out there that understands even if you don’t know them personally.
and while I have all of these warm feelings about the holiday season, I’m also just as nervous. I have felt this pressure to make sure things are perfect during this time of year and have put a lot of stress on myself throughout the season making sure things are. I’m known for throwing a pretty big Christmas party every year and each year my family and friends anticipate what I’m going to do next so there is all this expectation that comes with the holiday season that gives me instant anxiety. In fact I’ve already had half a dozen people inquire about what I intend to do for my party this year and Thanksgiving isn’t even over! I know I want to throw the party because it does bring me joy and it is one of the ways I show the people I love that I care but skipping it and doing something super intimate or not at all, is also tempting. With that said, I’m going into party planning mode soon but I intend to do it on a much stricter budget and with a lot less need for perfection and I will be asking for help if I need it.
Lastly I intend to be present in each and every moment I share with my loved ones this season. I will put my phone down (when I’m not taking pictures), get out in nature, practice more self care and give back to my community in a bigger way than I have in the past. I also look forward to doing serious weight maintenance this season and not indulging in the name of the holiday season.
What are your thoughts going into the holiday season? I’d love to know in the comments below.