FINDING PEACE IN THE HOLIDAY HUSTLE: SLOWING DOWN TO SAVOR THE SEASON

The holiday season creeps up on me like a relentless tide. Decorations start appearing in October, and by November, the calendar is a battlefield of commitments—company functions, obligatory gatherings, and events that someone deemed essential to “celebrate the season.” For years, I’ve felt like a bystander in my own life, shuttled from one event to the next, drained rather than uplifted. There’s an unspoken yet deafening pressure to be festive and joyful and cram in as much as possible before the New Year. It leaves little room to breathe.

This year, I consciously decided to break free from the suffocating grip of societal expectations. I am determined to let the holidays unfold on my terms, not dictated by others but shaped by what truly resonates with me.

I sip my coffee in the early hours of a chilly Saturday morning, staring at the blank spaces on my calendar. I resist the urge to fill them. Instead, I circle a few things: coffee with a friend next week, a visit to the botanical gardens to stroll among the holiday lights, and a lazy evening at a local winery, enjoying a glass of dry red while listening to a solo guitarist strumming old holiday classics; or maybe a visit to the cigar lounge to enjoy a visit with friends and colleagues. These are the moments I want—the quiet ones that fill my soul instead of draining it.

Being a divorced father of adult-aged children adds a layer of complexity to this season. My daughters are busy with their lives, carving out new traditions in their corners of the world. Our family gatherings, while important, no longer center on every aspect of the holidays. I cherish our time together, but I’ve accepted that this season isn’t about recreating the past. It’s about embracing the present, fully immersing myself in the moments we share, and appreciating the new traditions we're creating and the memories we're making.

As the weeks pass, I find myself immersed in the beauty of simpler joys. A conversation over cocktails stretches into hours of laughter. A local musician’s acoustic set reminds me of the power of live music and human connection. Walking the paths of the botanical gardens, bundled in a scarf and gloves, I feel the crisp air on my face and the glow of lights all around me. For once, I’m not rushing. I’m savoring, and it's a revelation.

The holiday spirit has always felt elusive, like chasing something out of reach. But this year, it doesn’t feel forced. I’m not running after it, and I’m not trying to manufacture it. It’s here in the quiet moments I’ve chosen for myself, in the deliberate slowing down and intentional pauses.

For the first time in a long time, I find peace in this season of hustle and bustle. The holidays aren’t perfect, but they’re uniquely mine, which makes all the difference.

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