Mindful Launch into 2024
It was a snowy morning the week before Thanksgiving. I ran into my neighbor scraping ice off her car and we had a quick chat. She shared her plans for Thanksgiving and added, “And then the holidays are here. I already feel it in the pit of my stomach.” It was mid-November and the frenzied, out-of-the-normal-rountine days of December were already reaching out with long, sticky fingers to drag her into the stream of messaging and madness that can be the holiday season. And now it’s here.
Your December does not have to be the endless pursuit of keeping kids (and yourself) calm while chasing after impossible ideals, obligations and feelings that someone else stamped with approval. A practice that leaves many of us exhausted and empty (kids, too). You can do your holidays differently this time and you might awaken in 2024 restored, grateful and filled-up.
The “different” is paying attention to yourself and actually choosing what really works for you during this month and letting the rest go. Yes, mindfulness is the key. Paying attention, on purpose, to what is happening in the moment, without judgement—it’s a mind-blowing practice. And it only takes minutes, a little courage and some self-compassion.
So here's the 5-minute plan: over the next 4 weeks I will send a weekly newsletter with journal prompts, a holiday tip or two, and an activity to support you in creating a season you can really embrace. You can spend 5 minutes worth of your energy each day to answer a prompt, try an activity, or use a tip to help you, your family, kids, students and friends to notice and embrace what truly matters. You can find the courage to release what no longer serves you and the ease to create space for what you really want in your new year.
‘Doing it different’ is a courageous act of self-care that you can model for kids and adults in your life and most especially model for yourself. I’m in this with you. I’m doing it differently this year. You are invited to join me.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
Set a timer. Write or draw your response for 5 minutes. Kids can, too!
Do you enjoy the holidays? What informs this feeling for you?
What would you like less of this month? What would you like more of?
If it were possible, what one ritual or obligation would you stop participating in? Why?
If time, money and hurt feelings were not an issue, what would you do differently this month?
NO-COST FUN for EVERYONE: Alternative “Shopping”
(with kids, family, students, friends, or just you…)
Decide where you will go “shopping.” (This could be walking on a main street in town, at a playground, a nature trail, in a museum, during a drive, in a classroom, etc.)
Pick a theme that fits your “shopping” destination:
snow, lights, a shape (triangle, circle, stars…), a color, alphabet letter, smooth things, shiny things, sounds, scents, silly things…
Go to your destination with all participants. “Shop” for things that fit your theme.
When someone finds an item, write or draw, share aloud, or take photos. Who would you give that item to and why? Who found the most items? Who found the most unique item? What did you find for yourself?
When you are done “shopping,” share a treat like apple slices dipped in honey and then crushed pretzels!
KEEP IT CALM : Create a Breath Box!
(tips for the teacher in us all)
Get a box or paper bag (even an old pillow case) and gather items you have around the house that don’t have a purpose (like odd parts from games, toys, postcards, magnets, party favors, nick-nacks…). Put them in the box.
Choose a time of day to use the breath box (when school begins; before dinner, before a transition, before bedtime…)
Take turns having kids (or anyone) reach into the box and pull out an object. They can make up a breath practice related to the item. (hint: create a body shape that mimics the item and do simple breath: breathe in and out of the nose slowly.)
Use the breath bag as needed to keep things calm as the day goes on. That can look like this:
-Tell kids what you notice: (name a feeling, behavior, energy level, body movement…)
-Say, “I’m going to choose from the breath box.”
- Say, “Let’s all try this breath together.” (make up a breath or model asking for help and get kids’ input)