12/24/2025
We posted this for Thanksgiving, but it pertains to Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and this entire weekend as you try and navigate time with people you aren't on the same page with. It's a long read, but hopefully some helpful hints to get you through....January is almost here 🥰 Good luck this week!
Here ya go:
While most people like to "say" they enjoy their family gatherings, stress levels DEFINITELY increase, and the "Normal Rockwell" moment is not nearly achieved. In fact, most of what I hear in my practice, throughout the entire year, is the EXACT opposite....just how stressful getting together with families and holidays were growing up or even currently. Addictions increase, depression increases, financial burdens increase, body image issues heighten, sleep deprivation is at an all time high, eating disorders and indulgences are at an all time high and it is the highest su***de rate of the entire year. People are grieving or lonely, or have TOO much going on and need space...they need a place where they feel "safe" enotionally! "THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR...NOT!"
I took a workshop and a support group where the following pointd were the "rules" for both. In thinking about them further, I thought that they would be a great thing to apply when gathering around, having conversations with family and friends this year, in addition to not discussing politics! 🤣
Not that we should have "rules"at a holiday meal or with our closest loved ones, but we CERTAINLY, should set "boundaries" and have respect for each other, and I think that these are great "guidelines" for building the foundation of those, and keeping peace with each other as you navigate conversations and your time and space together.This season, give them a try, ... and carry them throughout the year, they just may make a difference!
Guidelines:
1. What’s said here stays here. No gossip. No judgment. This is supposed to be a "safe" place.
2. We aren’t here to fix one another so please don’t offer advice or unsolicited suggestions. Just listen. Hold "space" for whatever someone needs.
to say, do, feel or be...that's all.
3. No crosstalk. When someone is sharing don’t interrupt, it’s their time to talk. Let them finish! If you’d like to follow up or have more time to talk to someone, make 1:1 plans with them after group sharing time is over. (Ohhhh this is a hard one for MANY!)
4. Please feel free to cry, it’s a cleansing, helpful, natural activity and respect someone's tears or whatever emotion they are feeling. Its not your job to tell them how to "feel." Definitely don't put them down for however they feel!
5. Limit sharing/speaking time to 3-4 minutes. Give everyone time to share/talk.
6. Just LOVE ❤️