Winter Wonderland
When I think about the holidays, the sentence, “Down, down, down the rabbit hole I go,” continually enters my mind. As we move unceasingly toward the Winter Solstice, it is a descent into darkness and entering a season where many creatures intelligently and intentionally tap out for a few weeks. Humans ramp things up instead by surrounding ourselves with lights, parties, errands, and mountains of cooking, baking, and shopping. My organization skills kick into overdrive as we plan activities and chores around pre-scheduled events - not to mention ensuring we have what we need when we get there. My diet is off-kilter with the addition of delicious appetizers and drinks, eating at odd times, and remembering that sugar-highs are a thing.
So my rabbit hole becomes a vortex. I feel the constant threat of forgetting something, being late, and not having enough time to prepare a gift or a meal or fitting in things that are important to me and my health. I see people getting sick and hope my loved ones nor I catch a cold or flu. I feel tired, sometimes irritable, and definitely like I am in a hurry.
Alice In Wonderland
Now, is all this pressure entirely in my head? Yup. I am doing all these things because of societal expectations? Certainly. Am I scheduling lots of activities for the benefit of others? Absolutely. As a rational person, I can recognize what is happening. But in many moments, I am not reasoning; I am thinking emotionally and only concerned that my kid shows at their music concert on time, appropriately dressed, with their sheet music, and has cookies to share after the show.
A few years ago, I found an impressive list for how to appreciate the change in season through Anna Purna Living, and I have endeavoured every year since then to apply some of these ideas (and others) into our annual traditions. Carrie-Ann Moss even includes a lovely Yogi Tea recipe to brew for the occasion. How sweet is that?
Regardless of your faith or beliefs at this time of year, I feel it is worth marking the change from Autumn to Winter with a small tradition. It is sensible to recognize and welcome a season that lovingly covers the earth with a blanket of snow. Thank the season that allows trees and plants to stand dormant and draw nutrients from fallen leaves. Reflect on the time of year when animals, great and small, slumber and grow new life while they rest and recuperate.
Here are the things I am trying to keep in mind this holiday season:
Meditate and take time to slow your mind down consciously.
Appreciate the happy moments when they happen. Don’t try to capture it on your phone. Don’t try to move on to the next thing. Stop and capture that moment in your mind. Remember the odours in the air, the temperature you feel, the emotion you are experiencing. Give thanks for that moment.
Live within your means. This sentence most often speaks to our financial situation, which is very sensible. Still, I feel that this can also relate to our emotional state, the amount of time we have available to us, and our health and energy levels. Decide what is important to you and focus first on those priorities. Do not short-change your welfare or happiness to placate a self-imposed or external expectation.
Breathe and take stock in each moment - especially the hard ones. Feeling impatient in a long line up while the customers in front of you have 50 items each and the cashier is a trainee? Close your eyes and breathe, internally connect with the people around you, and remember that we are all in this world together, but perceiving everything separately. Feeling overwhelmed because you have ten things to do in 20 minutes? Stop, breathe, and take one minute to prioritize and calm down. Losing your temper because no one else feels the same level of urgency you do? Stop, breathe, and try to take a step back to review how vital the task actually is.
Get outside and spend time in nature.
Take a yoga class! Seriously though, you should do that.
I wish you a happy, healthy, lovely Winter Solstice and holiday season. This is truly a beautiful time of year.