Thoughts after Thanksgiving on Slowing Down

A few of my thoughts after Thanksgiving – but mostly on slowing down during December.

Thoughts after Thanksgiving on Slowing Down

After Thanksgiving weekend I feel full – both literally and figuratively. November has been a busy month, one filled with special moments spent with family and friends. From birthday parties to pizza dinners, girls nights for me and golf days for Brandon – there were lots of opportunities to see the ones we love most. And to top off our month of gatherings, my mother in law is flying in to celebrate our daughters’ performance in the Nutcracker later this week. I can’t help but feel as if I’m overflowing with gratitude while filling up with holiday anxiety.

Do you ever feel anxious before the holiday season? The uneasy feelings creep in as soon as I start to anticipate all that is to come once Thanksgiving is over. I’m always excited, but also overwhelmed (and maybe even a little nervous).The anxiety hits full force when the Christmas decoration boxes appear in the living room because it means my favorite time is finally here.

The few days after Thanksgiving leading up to the first of December are usually spent decorating our home for Christmas. This year Brandon and I tackled the holiday decor early, to extend the number of twinkly light nights we have together. I feel much calmer when there is garland above every window and a Christmas tree in every room. Knocking out the decorating early feels good, especially since our list of holiday traditions is long. Even though our family wants to do it all before Santa comes down the chimney, I never want to rush through anything. Plus, we celebrate two very special birthdays (Annabelle and Arbor) in December.

Slowing Down During December

The December days seem to fly by more quickly than any other month. I have spent countless hours researching ways to slow down life and it all comes down to perspective. While it is impossible to freeze time, it’s not unthinkable to decelerate your days. Slow living is a mindset – a conscious choice to focus on what’s important, put space between tasks, and do less.

One can embrace slow living by finding ways to be present and in the moment (which we know to be the practice of mindfulness). With that being said, what if we look at the meaning of Thanksgiving as our reminder of how it is done? Thanksgiving is the day we are told to stop to be grateful for all that we have. Traditionally it was a day to celebrate quantity (the harvest) over quality, but it’s evolved to being conscious and considerate of everything you have. If we were to take this ideology as the way to live – then perhaps it is actually possible to slow down life.

Practicing gratitude requires you to be present in the moment and actively seek out the good in your lives. Make a list – on paper or in your mind – of both the big and little things. Don’t spend time thinking of what you don’t have because you will never have enough.