11/24/2025
Happy Thanksgiving + A Gentle Holiday Reminder 💛
Hi everyone,
I hope this message finds you well and feeling supported as we move into the holiday season. I want to take a moment to wish you and your loved ones a warm, peaceful, and meaningful Thanksgiving. However you choose to spend the day — with family, friends, a partner, your children, or in quiet rest — I hope it brings you moments of gratitude and ease.
Holidays can be beautiful, but they can also bring extra pressure, old dynamics, and emotional fatigue. So I want to offer a few gentle reminders to help you protect your peace during this season:
1. You don’t have to perform to be loved.
People-pleasing often shows up during the holidays as:
saying yes when you want to say no
overexplaining your boundaries
carrying everyone’s emotions
trying to keep the mood “perfect”
Try this instead:
“No, thank you.”
“I’m not able to do that this year.”
“I’m honoring what I need.”
You are allowed to set limits without guilt.
2. Check in with your body before you check in with everyone else.
Overstimulation can look like:
sudden irritability
zoning out
headaches
tight chest
feeling overwhelmed for “no reason”
Pause and ask yourself:
“What do I need right now?”
Maybe it’s water, fresh air, a quiet corner, food, or a short break.
Your body gives you signals. You’re not “doing too much” by listening.
3. Take breaks without apologizing.
If you need a reset, try:
stepping outside for 5 minutes
sitting in your car for quiet
doing a quick breathing exercise in the bathroom
limiting how long you stay
Rest is not rude. Breaks are not selfish. They are boundaries.
4. Plan your exit strategy ahead of time.
It helps to decide before you arrive:
how long you’ll stay
what topics you won’t engage in
who you’ll lean on if you feel triggered
what you’ll do if the environment becomes too much
You don’t owe anyone unlimited access to you.
5. Choose peace over tradition when needed.
It’s okay if this year looks different.
It’s okay if you’re grieving, healing, or protecting your space.
It’s okay if you don’t have the energy to show up the way you used to.
You are not letting anyone down by taking care of yourself.
6. Put something on your calendar that refills you.
Holidays shouldn’t just be about what you give.
Make room for what you need too — even something simple:
a nap
a walk
a cozy movie
journaling
a warm bath
quiet time with your favorite music
Small comfort counts.
If this season feels heavy, you are not alone. Please be gentle with yourself and remember that healing does not pause during holidays — it often needs extra care during them.
I’m grateful to be a part of your support system, and I hope you give yourself permission to show up this holiday season in a way that feels safe and sustainable for you.
Wishing you peace, rest, and soft moments of joy.
Chardé Walker, LCSW-S, CART
Psychotherapist • Supervisor • Author
Founder, Chardé Counseling Center
📧 info@chardecounselingcenter.com
🌐 www.chardecounseling
Charde Counseling Center is a black female therapist in the state of Texas offering virtual psychotherapy services.
