Never Mind the Joneses - Celebrate the Holidays Your Way

You probably don't need to see another "Happy Holidays" post right now.

You've seen plenty of them already. And I'm guessing that most of them failed to put you in a festive mood, didn't they? 

But this is not a "happy holidays" message. This is a "reimagine your holidays" message. 

Let me explain. 

There's something that drives me crazy around this time of the year. We get bombarded with messages that tell us we should feel merry, spread the light, and be giddy with joy and anticipation of "the most wonderful time of the year." 

Well, is it really the most wonderful time of the year? 

We buy stuff nobody really needs, we overeat and overindulge in every conceivable way and we end up being more frazzled, busy and stressed out than we are any other time of year. It all happens in the name of holiday fun.  

The expectations of having a picture-perfect holiday put so much pressure on all of us that we go into a "holiday mode" and default to pretty weird and yet entirely socially acceptable behaviors. 

Our health, our relationships and even our planet suffer because of the way we celebrate holidays.  

 And it doesn't have to be this way.

Cultural conditioning can be a powerful force but it is not irreversible.

We can challenge the social norms that don't work for us and our loved ones.

This is what's at the heart of being a Cultural (R)evolutionary: keeping what works, changing what doesn't. 

There are two questions that Cultural (R)evolutionaries ask really frequently: 

1. Is there a better way?
2. What if...

• What if you could celebrate the holidays on your terms?
• What if you could redefine what this period means to you?
• What if you created your own traditions and rituals?

You can. Nobody can stop you. It's your life, your family, your friends. And you deserve to have the holidays that nourish your body, your relationships, and your soul. 

This year might be already too late to plan this, but next year you and your family may decide to go on a trip instead of buying expensive gifts for everyone. Or perhaps you will choose to spend one of the days serving a community in need in the true spirit of giving. Or you may decide to design a new holiday ritual that is unique, fun and that allows everyone to participate in the way that feels natural and in alignment with your values. Be creative, have fun with it and experiment.

And one more thing: if you experienced loss, sickness or any other life event that doesn't make you feel jolly, allow yourself some space to feel what you feel instead of trying to be merry and fun all the time. It's ok to feel sadness, grief, and pain during the holidays. 

Whatever it is, spend the holidays the way that feels right to YOU. Let the Joneses do their own thing.