https://bellagracemagazine.com/blog/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays Inspiration for Discovering Magic in the Everyday Thu, 20 Apr 2023 18:11:53 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 https://bellagracemagazine.com/blog/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-640 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:25:40 +0000 https://bellagracemagazine.com/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/#comment-640 I am an INFP and everything you said rings true with me. I need time out, holiday music, movies, and books to reset me. I adore the holidays, but I have to remind myself that I need these escapes to deal with the energy of the season. I find Hot chocolate, crocheting, and sitting in a cozy chair admiring the colorful lights on my Christmas tree all help me cope. It’s the most wonderful time of the year-yes, I am singing! Thank you, for sharing!

]]> https://bellagracemagazine.com/blog/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-638 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:25:38 +0000 https://bellagracemagazine.com/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/#comment-638 I know exactly what you mean. This year will be the first Christmas my husband and I will not be traveling. I purposely chose to keep a clear calendar this December so I could take my time with shopping, wrapping and shipping a few gifts, reading, listening to Christmas and Winter related podcasts and just enjoying quiet time doing whatever comes up. I have to say I felt a bit guilty of being selfish but got over that when I realized it’s not a selfish act to take care of yourself. It truly is the best time of the year if you take time to feel it at your own pace.

]]> https://bellagracemagazine.com/blog/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/comment-page-1/#comment-639 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:25:38 +0000 https://bellagracemagazine.com/an-introverts-guide-to-the-holidays/#comment-639 Like you, Christen, I love this time of year. The air we breathe in December is full of hope, anticipation and light. I love visiting friends and family sharing good food and fun; sharing memories of Christmases past. The hard part of this beautiful time of year is the expectations I impose upon myself, to be the perfect host, the friendly, happy party guest, the aunt who always plays with the children when they get bored, the generous, volunteer for holiday work events. I simply cannot do it all. I’ve tried in the past and found myself in tears throughout the holidays. Last year, I only allowed myself to schedule one evening and one daytime social event per week. I didn’t over explain myself, I simply offered my most sincere thanks for the invitation and regrets that I would not be able to join or attend. The first two invitations I turned down left me reeling with guilt, chastising myself for not being able to “do everything”. My friends managed it and even enjoyed it, what did that say about me?
I realized, it said a lot about me, I was learning self-compassion. My mind and body had been begging me to relieve them from my holiday expectations for such a long time and I was giving them/me the gift of love and listening. I kept my promise to myself and enjoyed every moment of the holiday season, no tears, no trembling, no panic, all was peaceful and merry. I’m doing it again this year and enjoying each day of this season to its fullest.

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