A couple weeks ago, I wrote a bit about the exhaustion that creeps its way into so many of our lives this time of year.
Texting back and forth with a friend recently, we used words like “impossible”, “tiring”, and “such a mess”. I envision her office looking a bit like my bedroom did on Sunday afternoon… wrapping paper strewn everywhere, bits of old ribbon and tape lost forever under the bed.
In the group chat for moms with daughters on the school dance team, there are jokes about how we’re all “losing it”. Too many gifts to remember to take to too many different parties. Oh, and bring cookies.
I started this holiday season with the intention to go easy. To be busy as gently as possible by finding peace in the small, beautiful, everyday moments of my life.
Honestly, it’s only sort of working. Beautiful moments? Yes, lots. So tired? Also, yes. Very.
As I write this from the couch on Monday morning, another potentially wild week stretching out ahead of me… I feel the weight of the bags under my eyes that snuggling up under my favorite fuzzy blanket while I work isn’t enough to fix at the moment.
I could use a pep talk. If you could, too, here goes:
I know it’s a lot. I see that you’re tired. I feel the hopefulness in your desire to be present during the busy, busy, busy of the holidays. It’s just that little pockets of presence might not be quite enough. And that’s ok.
You are worthy of the rest you need. Of feeling health and happiness, any time of year, but especially right now when you’re holding so much. You’re worth skipping the party, going to bed early, letting someone else with more capacity take the cookies.
If you want to, you really can cancel the plans, reschedule the appointments, give yourself the gift of more space to create the slow, sacred holiday you crave.
You can take a deep breath, postpone the to-do’s, sit outside for a bit while you let the warmth of the sun touch your face, a contrast to the crisp autumn air.
Also, it’s ok to ask for help. It might feel weird, a little foreign, to hand a bit of it over, but what would it be like to allow yourself to be supported? To settle into the love and care of your people?
And lastly, know that even if you go ahead and muscle your way through to January 2, bleary eyed and wondering how you pulled it off… you’re all good. Just the way you are.
You are full of so much beauty, no matter how the holidays go. You’ve got this. ❤️✨
On that note, I’m wishing you well and hoping your holiday season is full of peace and hope and lots of fun. ☺️
See you next week,
Hannah