Keep Your Spirit BRIGHT

Here we are approaching the longest night of year, Winter Solstice. During this festive time, it's also a time when grief, overwhelm, and heaviness tend to arise. The depths commingled with celebrations, gatherings, and a season focused on joy can feel confusing.

Despite the lights and decorations being up, this weekend my son said, I'm just not feeling the holiday spirit this year. 

We've been surfing several weeks of illness in our household, but this went beyond that. We had a gentle conversation about life, holidays, and how each year it can feel a bit different.

It was a moment of awareness, that even for kiddos, even with all the festivities of the season, the collective heaviness and heartache is palpable. Add to that whatever is transpiring in your personal world and your light can feel diminished.

So what can you do to keep your spirit bright when it doesn't feel like the most wonderful time of the year?

Here are some simple practices that tend to your nervous system and help return your sparkle. I'm doing these right along with you this season and promise they do help ✨

Back to basics: Remember to nourish your body, hydrate, and get enough rest. How festive do you feel when you're tired and hangry? Exactly.

Take the time to eat a healthy meal or lighten up on sweets and processed foods for a few meals or days. When you're body isn't busy digesting heavy foods, you have more capacity to digest emotions.

Add some electrolytes to your water. Ensure you're hydrating, it's easy to forget during the winter months. Herbal teas, soups, all count.

Head to bed a bit early. Cozy up for a long winter's nap. Ensure you're resting enough.

Move your body. Take a time out to get some fresh air, go for a walk, stretch. Moving your physical body moves stagnant energy.

Tidy something up. The junk drawer. A closet. The kitchen. Clearing out the old or restoring a space to order creates space for light to enter in. 

When you can't summon your own sparkle, take time to enjoy the twinkling lights of the season. Light a candle. Turn off the lights and sit in front of a fire or your decorated tree. Take a drive or stroll and appreciate the lights of your neighborhood. 

Remember to breathe. You can practice right now. Deep breath in through your nose. Full exhale through your mouth. Slow and steady. At least 3 times.

May the approach to the darkest night, signal your own returning of more LIGHT within. Wishing you gentleness and joy however you choose to celebrate the season ❤️