‘I should send cards’ ‘I should visit all my relatives’ ‘I should spend lots of money buying gifts for everyone I know’ or ‘I should invite my lonely cousin to join us at the Christmas table’. Putting lots of energy into pleasing everyone else and ignoring our own wishes at this time of year can leave us all too tired to enjoy any aspect of the season.
This year, let’s all make a promise to ignore those ‘shoulds’ and make time for ourselves, to spend precious time with the people we love and care for, to pick and choose the invitations we accept and, above all, to shut the door on anything that doesn’t work for us. Enjoying the kind of Christmas that nourishes and supports us can mean that we have enthusiasm and energy for a bright and shiny 2024.