Happy Holidays! I wanted to send a huge thank you to all of you who have continued to follow along this past year. Thank you for sending comments, messages and encouraging words – it always means so much to me to engage with you. As this year comes to a close, I have been ruminating on the past twelve months and plans for the future. Although I have kind of shied away from sharing more personal thoughts, that is one of the reasons I started this blog so I wanted to share this.

I often find myself desperately anticipating the next phase or step of life only to get there and realize I neglected to appreciate so many of the moments that came before, as they were happening in real time. I know I am not alone in this. We consume content at a rapid pace which can often make us feel as though we are behind if we haven’t hit some mile marker in life. It feels incredibly unnatural to see what everyone is doing, buying, trips they are taking, etc. Obviously this seems insane for me to say, as that is what this space provides, but over this past year I have tried to shift my approach on how I produce and consume. I have found setting goals is wonderful, but not at the cost of enjoying the day to day. My wish for 2023 is to take more time to notice all of the moments that are happening around me daily – good or bad. The word savor comes to mind. Just like I want to savor a good meal, a good trip, a good book or a good song – I want to savor the moments, not press fast forward to the next step. Often once you get there, you realize you are instantly anticipating something else. You get married, people ask if you are having kids. You buy the house, you want a bigger one, a better one. It is a never ending cycle only amplified by public consumption. I learned this trick in therapy to identify your core values. Once you set those it is easier to get yourself back on track when you end up in the land of comparison. If one of your core values is balance and you find yourself envying someones life that likely has little of that, you pivot back into yourself and your track. It becomes your north star in a sense.

My hope is for you to also find comfort if you are feeling behind or frustrated. You are not behind, you are exactly where you are supposed to be. In moments of frustration, I often shift my perspective. Simply having the time to think about this, while many people are struggling for daily necessitates, is a gift in itself that I don’t take for granted. In an ever chaotic world, there is still so much beauty around us. I feel it even more this time of year. How the simple glow of Christmas lights or a festive playlist can bring so much comfort. I know that is not the case for everyone, so I am thinking of you all! I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a beautiful New Year! And remember to go easy on yourself as you start thinking about future plans.

Taking Time To Slow Down
{my favorite ways to completely decompress}

-Light a candle (or five) and take a long bath
-Watch a favorite movie
-Cook or bake something I know I can make well (to avoid frustration)
-Go for a long walk or hike and actually take time to stop and breathe in fresh air
-Lay in bed and allow myself to do nothing, but binge watch Emily In Paris – you are allowed to relax!
-Listen to Christmas music
-Do a very easy meditation on Insight Timer (Sarah Blondin is my favorite!)
-Time with family & friends
– Journal
-Deep clean my closet (only if I’m in the mood to clean all the stuff I take out and it doesn’t feel like a chore haha)