Dashing through the....I'm tired this year 🥱 How to Celebrate the Holidays Gently.

As I write this post we are knee deep in the holiday season. Snow is on the ground, all the stores have been decorated for weeks (although I haven't bought hardly anything because inflation is a bitch), Mariah has been defrosted yet one more time, and honestly it's all falling a little flat.

The truth is

I'm tired this year.🥱

Anybody else?

Perhaps its the global tension and confusion of the human race, the short, dark days, sprinkle in some racism, politics, natural disasters, and whatever else the 24 hour news cycle wants to throw at us and I just want someone to put me down...for a nap. Don't worry I wasn't going there.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to be everything, do everything, know everything, have everything, etc. etc. I don't know who came up with the idea of 'year end challenges' or 'finishing the year strong' but friends I have to tell you that we aren't built like that. 🙅🏻‍♀️

Honestly - whoever decided to put those end of the year nutrition/workout/get up at 5 a.m.crush your goals on Tiktok is a sadist. WTF. I'll say it again: we 👏 aren't 👏 built 👏 that 👏 way👏.

So, consider this a loving reminder to stop stressing about 'finishing strong'. Remember that it is natural for your mind and body to want to slow down when it is cold and dark. If you are struggling to keep your regular pace right now there isn't anything wrong with you. You aren't lazy or a failure - you're just a regular person. 💚

What we really want to say is that we don't wish you a happy holidays. We wish you a gentle holiday. Be kind to yourself. Be soft. Go for long, slow walks. Take some naps. Hug your loved ones, furry or otherwise. Don't exhaust yourself with holiday parties. Slow the alcohol and sugar roll...but do eat some cookies. Harness the ease and power of gratitude. Forgive yourself and others for mistakes and mispoken words. Drive around and look at holiday lights. That to-do list? It's never going to get done...so take it off it's alter and instead, worship rest.

Know that every breath we take is a gift, and do your best to be present in the moment.

Not the future...not the past. Be here now. I'm really saying that to myself, too.

I believe to have a gentle holiday requires some forethought so you don't get caught up in the rush. It is helpful to ask yourself some questions as early as possible:

👉What is most important to you about the holidays?

👉What do you enjoy most about the holidays?

👉How do you want to feel this holiday season?

👉How was last year? What went well? What would you like to change if possible?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you focus your precious time and energy on what is most important to you. And you are, after all, your most important asset, so this is a worthy investment of your time.

Also, if money is tight pleasssseeee don't pressure yourself to go into debt over holiday gifts. This year, my family opted to secret Santa each other's stockings, enjoy our other holiday traditions such as movies and some baking, and call it good. Take that, consumer economy.

That's really all I wanted to share with you. Thank you for taking some time to read this quick love note. Please be gentle with yourselves through the end of the year...heck...take it into 2024. Instead of pressuring yourself with a bunch of New Year's resolutions (that will likely fail fyi - we will talk about that in the next blog post and more importantly, learn a different way to approach resolutions) make a commitment to honor yourself and treat yourself with the kindess and respect your deserve. 🎁

From our slightly scandalous hearts to yours….

Sarah J. Wooten, DVM, CVJ (and the CON crew)