Moments of peace and calm can seem elusive in December. The holidays are speeding towards us, we are closing out our year and trying to ‘catch up’ on missed goals, and many of us are starting to think about our goals and visions for the following year.
Often, we think that peace and calm can only come when we’ve finished all other tasks and set aside a large amount of time to relax. But we want to encourage you to find some small moments of peace throughout the rest of this month. Here are some ideas:
Grab a cup of something hot.
It’s so hard to take time in this season to just sit and ‘do nothing’. A cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa is a great excuse to slow down your hustle and contemplate. Sit near a window, candle, or Christmas tree and enjoy the view, or find a friend to visit with you! Speaking of candlelight…
Turn off the house lights and enjoy the dark.
We love this quote from Jeanette Winterson:
“I have noticed that when all the lights are on, people tend to talk about what they are doing – their outer lives. Sitting round in candlelight or firelight, people start to talk about how they are feeling – their inner lives. They speak subjectively, they argue less, there are longer pauses.”
The peace and connection that candlelight brings is exactly what we need this season!
Watch a holiday movie.
Grab some snacks and your hand sewing, embroidery, knitting, or crochet and turn on a Christmas movie. Old favorites are great, but it might also be fun to try something you’ve never seen before. Is there a classic holiday movie that you’ve never watched? Give it a try!
Connect to your community.
The holidays are a great time to get out into your community and connect with neighbors! Visit a small business and do some Christmas shopping- it’s bound to make their day. Visit the local high school’s holiday performances, or find a local organization where you can volunteer some time. Connecting with your community will increase your sense of belonging and can improve mental health and well-being.
Give and receive lots of hugs.
Oxytocin is a chemical in our bodies that is associated with happiness and less stress. Every time we hug, touch, or sit close to someone we love, our levels of oxytocin rise. Hugging and snuggling with loved ones is quite literally a recipe for peace and joy!
Need to connect with other quilters like you? Visit our Facebook group and say hello!
