Every year since 2010 I’ve done a series of December diaries focusing on a variety of seasonal topics ranging from music to food to ugly sweaters. (Full disclosure: I did ONE Seasonal diary in 2008, and 2009 (holy crap, how did TEN YEARS go by so fast!) was the first December K2 was with us so I was a little distracted :-)). It’s time to do it again! Don’t worry if Christmas isn’t your thing- while my personal December perspective is primarily secular but culturally Christian-based with a vibrant dose of earth-centered Winter Solstice mixed in because Unitarian Universalism, these diaries are NOT meant to be siege locations in the War On Christmas. In other words, if there’s a holiday in December that makes you happy, that you mark differently than all the other days, or that involves negotiating about who brings what food… or even if there isn’t... this is a place for you!
I brought cookies on Tuesday’s installment, so grab some from the plate over there, choose your Saturday Night beverage of choice- I’ve got a full glass of 19 Crimes “The Banished” because wine feels necessary midway through December, and hop below the Story Break. I implore you with the intensity of Jacob Marley to read our little description and do your part to keep Top Comments going strong!
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It’s mid-December. No matter what religious or cultural path you follow, it’s nearly impossible in American society to avoid the effects of our frenetic, consumerist Christmas culture. From an expectation of gift exchange to the dreaded Work Holiday Party, from an overabundance of sweets to the pressure to decorate, bake, cook and gift with the skill of an Instagram star while finding time to volunteer and find the True Meaning Of The Season, it’s enough to make us all walking balls of stress. Don’t forget the mad rush at many workplaces- intense busy-ness in retail or end of year/we know you’ll all take that last week off or get very little done so lets overload you now. And if you’re a college student or the parent of one, add in finals to the equation! Wheeeeeee!
Or maybe that’s just me, but I suspect not. And if you don’t fall into this category, (a) I want to know how you do it!; and (b) you surely know people who do.
It’s important to make self-care part of our year-round practice, but in this season, even more so. After managing to get the vast majority of our holiday shopping for immediate family (aka The Kids) done yesterday, Mr. Brillig and I turned off our alarms and woke this morning when we were ready, and indulged in making an actual breakfast — waffles both regular and keto, with homemade blueberry syrup and bacon. We then spent the day doing non-holiday stuff: I cleaned out a corner of the house that’s been bugging me for ages, he moved his recently-assembled new desktop up to his office.
I make a point of having candles lit at night, and my essential oil diffuser on during the day, with scents I know make me feel calmer and cheerier. I take a bit of time to read even on the busiest days, and I have been including a nice herbal tea in the evenings… something about the warm mug and wonderful taste and aroma makes me smile, and that (I hope) leads to more restful sleep. I do have seasonal music on much of the time, but thanks to so many options via streaming media, I avoid the oft-played pop versions and seek out acoustic, piano, jazz or new versions of old classics. And most important, I’ve learned that it is OK NOT to do all the things. Points aren’t awarded, no one ‘wins’, and so if I don’t get holiday cards out, my friends will understand.
What do you do between Thanksgiving and New Years to take care of yourself? How do you minimize stress? Let us know in the comments!
TOP COMMENTS
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The mailboxes were bare (send em in! We don’t bite!) but I’ve got several highlights:
tarhealian loved this comment by svalbard, in Joan McCarter’s House Democrat starts what should be groundswell, demands McConnell recuse himself from impeachment.
In Aldous J Pennyfarthing’s Michelle Obama shows how a real first lady does it; rushes to Greta Thunberg's defense, bill dog highlights this comment from teresaprogressive.
And one from yours truly:
Christian Dem in NC‘s diary Pervert who groped a reporter on air in Savannah finally gets arrested generated a variety of comments; want to recognize this important comment by sierramimi as an example of how all people… not just those on camera… can respond when these criminal acts are perpetrated.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for yesterday, December 13th 2019, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
TOP PICTURES
Top Pictures for yesterday, December 13th 2019. Click any picture to be taken to the full comment or picture. Thank you jotter!