06/12/2025
It is that time of year when social media is lit up with Santa visits, lantern parades and the sparkle of Christmas parties. Our homes are twinkly, lists of things to do are growing longer, and the anticipation and build up to the big day has begun.... 🎄
Now don't get me wrong, I adore Christmas as much as the next person, but the pressure to show up in our most sparkly forms when nature is calling us to stuff our cheeks with food and hibernate all cosy under our duvets is a lot!
For many of us, the cost of living hits hard - there are going to be less presents under the tree this year, Christmas party invitations are being declined, and the expense of many festivities means that they are out of reach to us.
I don't have all of the answers because I'm struggling too, but I want to remind you of a few things...
✨️ It's OK if your Christmas looks different to everyone else's. When I was little, I had no idea how anyone else celebrated, what they got for Christmas, or what events they went to. Social media has its advantages, but comparison steals joy! Stop scrolling and find beauty in your own reality instead - snuggling up by the Christmas tree with your babies is just as precious in their eyes as any day out, I promise.
✨️ You don't need to do it all. Instead of making a list of what you think you *need* to do, perhaps start instead with a list of what truly *matters* to you and your family. For me, that's warmth, connection, laughter, and peace. When you come from a place of what truly matters, you may find that your needs aren't quite what you first thought they were...
✨️ Your feelings are valid. There is a lot of toxic positivity around this time of year to be grateful for what you have, and the reminder that plenty of other people have it worse than you do. And yes of course, gratitude practice is a beautiful and important tool to remind us of the simple beauties in our lives - I practice gratitude every day. But please know that there is also space within this for compassion towards your own feelings. As human beings we have the capacity to feel a huge spectrum of emotions from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows - sometimes simultaneously! - and they are all relative to your own life, experiences and situation. These emotions can be heightened at this time of year, so be kind to yourself and allow all the feels without any guilt.
✨️ And if you're coming along to any of my sessions over the festive period, I want to remind you that there is no pressure to show up in your best most sparkly form - come as you are, take what you need, there is no judgment here.
Let's just keep putting one foot in front of the other this season, and we are going to make it through together 😘
Claire ###
Ps. I highly recommend finding time over the festive season for a lovely hot choc and welsh cake at the cosy Castell Coffi in Caldicot - plenty of room for prams in the foyer seating too if you have a little one in tow! xx
