5 Tips for a Wholehearted Holiday

Do you find the holidays delightful… or dreadful?

Personally, I love the holidays - preparing surprises, family togetherness, practicing old/creating new traditions.  But the holidays can be tough as well.  All routines can fly out the window, leaving you feeling upside down.  There's joy and stress and indulgences and guilt and feelings are flying everywhere.  The holidays can get messy.  So I put together a list of things that help me keep my soul centered during the holiday season.  I hope you find them useful.

From Spider-Webbed to Dance Party-ing: 4 Lessons to get Unstuck

A few years ago I discovered one of my super powers: 

Family Dance Parties.

Now I'm no stranger to Dance Parties.  I've hosted many over the years.  Some lasted hours and others only one song.  They've de-stressed me in traffic, cured a rough day, turned a funk into silliness and laughter.  Dance parties have helped me find forgiveness, courage, and love when journaling or talking it out came up short.  

The power of a dance party is strong... 

Seventy-Six Trombones

The lights dim and in the shadows I watch with anticipation as the actors take their places for the opening scene.  I'm here to see my best friend perform the lead of Marian in The Music Man. 

And maybe because I've been reading Brené Brown's Daring Greatly for the last few weeks and hosting events about vulnerability - I am deeply struck at how completely and utterly brave it is for each individual cast member to get up on stage and perform for us. 

Carry on. I'll just be hiding in the other room.

Join me for a flashback:

My boyfriend is in the other room with a half decorated Christmas tree and a box of ornaments.  He agreed to come over and help deck the halls.  Even though it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  He seems to like me enough to accept my rationalization that since I skip town to visit family over the holidays, I need to decorate early so I can spend enough quality time with my tree and the lights I love so much.  

Where am I?

I'm hiding in the bedroom in self-imposed time out.