Christmas is approaching and many people get into 'survival mode'... just need to get through Christmas without putting on too much weight, get through the family visits, survive the shopping, cooking, preparing.... the list continues...
What a treat we are missing...
Christmas is a time when I take some time off, take my foot off the accelerator for a bit, the lights are twinkling, the house is warm...
I know this is not the case for everyone and I feel amazingly grateful that my family and I are in this situation.
However it does feel very important to me to keep things simple at this time of year. Here are a few choices I find useful:
1) Choose Real! Eating real is a big part for me in getting real about what is going on around us. Eating real means choosing food that does not get advertised, food that comes from a farm and not from a factory, choosing to avoid all big brands and labels and the supermarkets that only push 'edible products' at us. Making this simple step because it makes you feel better and because you really deserve the quality has the added effect on not supporting the big multinationals that are continuing to push profits over health.
2) Choose less.... This one is so important to me at this time of year. Personally I am not in need of anything. We have more than enough stuff! What I wish for more than anything this Christmas is to have a calm time of sharing and presence with my partner and children, my parents, my sister and her family.... this means more to me than any 'thing'. For my children too - I do not want them to be overwhelmed and I know that the toys can be fun but it is even more fun when mummy is relaxed on the floor and playing too...
3) Choose fair! Whether in food, clothes, toys, gadgets.... whatever it may be - taking a moment to think about how it was produced, by whom, in what conditions... This is definitely a work in progress for me and it is hard to be consistent... but remembering our consumer power with every purchase we make is in itself empowering. Where we put our money really does matter! Recently a few friends organised a clothes and 'stuff' exchange which was a great way to re-use... buying second hand also helps to make sure items are really used well.
4) Choose air! I love nothing more than a winter walk all wrapped up and finishing off in a traditional pub with a roaring fire ;-) ... Getting outside and feeling the cold air on our faces and getting moving is a wonderful way to keep up our energy over Christmas.
5) Choose water! No better way to cope with a few more glasses of wine than to make sure you have an extra glass of water with every one!
6) Choose presence... It does not matter what the next day is or the plans for the week... you are here - now. Enjoy each moment and each day one at a time. Be present with people, with your delicious food treats, with yourself. Slow down... but more of that for 2017
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone....