What Will You Quit This Christmas?

I think we can all recall a Christmas that stands out for us (for good or bad!). One for me was about 15 years ago. Four MacDonnell siblings (with partners) embarked on a snow trip to Tahoe, California, travelling from the four corners of the world.

Partners watched wide eyed as the dramas (on and off the slopes) ensued! Snow injuries, sibling?arguments of a Christmas Eastender special , one couple (remaining nameless) nearly getting married in an Elvis-esq church! And from what I recall, someone (again remaining nameless) jumping off a ground floor roof into 6 ft snow “just for the craic!”

My then partner (now husband!) had never snowboarded, but being an avid skateboarder in his day felt confident of a smooth transition! Retreating with heavy losses on day one, he announced he was face down in the snow for most of the day. At a point he could hear a woman roaring ?

“Abby, you’re not a quitter, you’ve never quit anything in your whole entire life”?

He looked up, and there was Abby, a pink faced, pink attired four year old fellow novice, never having quit anything in her whole entire 4 years!

The scene and the quote stuck with us for years, and always made us laugh.?

Abby would be nineteen this Christmas, I wonder has she “quit anything in her whole entire life” yet? ?

Quitting, so underrated, so under-celebrated. I think it's time we celebrate it and give it the credit it rightly deserves.?

So, what are you quitting this Christmas?

What’s lurking in your mind and in your life that needs quitting? What are you letting go of?

A task, a person, a thought, an expectation, a stressful visit?

You might just feel a hell of a lot lighter this Christmas.?

It was a Christmas to remember for many reasons. We were told we'd never do a Christmas like it again. At the time, we disagreed, but fifteen years later and a somewhat expanded head count, I’m not sure we will.

Wherever you are this Christmas and whatever is going on in your life, have a memorable time and raise a glass for what you have Quit!

Thank you for reading

Olivia MacDonnell

Founder, Confident Speak

Often quitting is a theme in my work with clients. Work doesn’t have to exhaust or weigh us down to make us feel like we’re exceeding. You have to quit stuff to take on what you really want to do/be.?

My work with clients helps them develop the skills, knowledge and awareness they need to not just be effective but to thrive regardless of their stage. Ultimately, so that they are better able to navigate the ups and downs, the inevitable “slopes” inherent in a life. It’s hard to achieve this, to figure this out alone.?

If you're curious to understand more, you know where to find me.

Listening?to

The little Drummer Boy ?by Villagers & Lisa O’ Neill.?Simply beautiful!

Like many,?Rainy Night in Soho ?accompanied by the stunning Colm Mac Con Iomaire. A very moving and authentic farewell to Shane?MacGowan.

Music

Trying but not succeeding yet to learn this on my whistle -?The Moving Clouds !

Here’s the previous newsletter you might have missed?