cheer

The holiday season is here. I’m reflecting back on this year as this will be my last blog post of 2020. I’m going to be taking time off between Christmas and New Year’s…in my experience most people don’t show up for their therapy sessions during that time. I can’t blame them. The holidays are not usually a time that people want to do hard work in therapy…it’s a time when we want to be close with family and rest and reflect on the year that’s almost over and make plans for the year coming up. Whether you celebrate Hannakuah, Kwanzaa, Christmas or nothing at all, this is a time of year when we often focus on cheer and celebration and look forward to new beginnings. 

In years past, during this time I’d be finishing up shopping, planning what’s for dinner and getting the kitchen ready for a baking marathon. This year is different though, in many ways. For one thing the holiday will be small and quiet, just me and the kids at home. Because of the pandemic we won’t be going to visit family and planning lots of celebrations. I did almost all of my shopping ahead of time knowing that I needed to shop online and things were likely to be delayed. This year feels much more relaxed than years past. Slowing down does not come naturally to me…I’m a planner and a do-er. I love to know what’s coming and keep busy. As I contemplate the upcoming holiday though, it occurs to me that what I need most is rest. Rest and connection. I’ve worked hard this year, growing a business and as a person.

Social distancing and a global pandemic has literally changed the world and how we show up in it. Sometimes I rail against not being able to get out and do fun things. I wish I could visit my family more often and not have to wait in line to get into the store. I wish my kids could be in school with their friends. I wish I didn’t have to wear a mask and things would go back to “normal.” And sometimes I reflect on how this slower pace of life has helped me to focus on what is important and what brings me joy. I’ve had to practice being more present and finding things that I’m grateful for.

Christmas is not only a season of rejoicing but of reflection.

Winston Churchill

Those two things, being present and practicing gratitude are what I want to focus on during this vacation, along with time with my family. I don’t have any set plans, just vague ideas about what might be fun. I’m picking up old hobbies and practicing new ones. I plan to show up each day without a plan and instead just see what’s there for me. I hope to practice taking time to listen and laugh and just be. I’m going to practice new ways to stay connected to the people that mean the most to me. I will spend time on video calls and find other ways to stay connected to family that does not live in my house with me. I want this holiday season to be an exercise in staying connected even though we’re socially distant.

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.

Mark Twain

Because in the end that’s what it’s really about. Being with the people that matter. Whether that’s family or friends or your neighbor. Maybe that’s someone you connect with online, someone that you play games with. Maybe it’s someone that you call or text, or that you get letters from. I pray that even in this difficult time, staying connected to others is what truly helps us to be of good…

cheer

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