You Deserve to Enjoy the Holidays
Posted by Jen Anderson on
It seems like it doesn't even need to be said. But who are we kidding? We wish each other Happy Holidays, but they usually end up being a lot more stressful than enjoyable. December Holidays (in the Northern Hemisphere) are all about bringing light into a time when the days are short, the nights are long, and the weather is cold and messy. And we expect ourselves to spend weeks in the dark working hard to create the impending magical experience.
I can relax and enjoy The Holidays when...
- I've bought, wrapped, and shipped all the presents,
- I've decorated my home even if I live alone and no one is coming over,
- I've baked a whole bunch of goodies that we absolutely have to have even though everyone will ignore it in favor of the store bought ice cream cake someone picked up on a whim, and
- I get to the end of the big family celebration without yelling or bursting into tears.
Whew! I'm getting stressed out just typing all that out. Essentially, we can enjoy the season once it's pretty much over and we can relax. We want to bask in the company of our best and dearest, but hell is other people so that's an issue.
I've written before on how to deal with food shaming during the holidays. The short version is to prepare a few responses to the rude comments so you don't have to spend any energy on them in the moment. (Also mingling pro-tip: a few reliable conversation starters can get you out of any awkward moments. When in doubt, go with, "speaking of changing the subject...")
But you're not going to stand up for yourself if you don't think you deserve it. So I'm here to remind you that you definitely deserve to enjoy the holidays. Period. End of sentence.
You deserve to eat (or not eat) all the yummy food in the office, at parties, and everywhere else. Without worrying about what people might say to you.
You deserve to get dressed up in something fabulous for every single party you're going to. Without worrying about how small you look (or don't look).
You deserve to laugh, and mingle, and be the life of the party. Without hearing your mother's critical voice in your head.
You deserve these things now. Not after you've finished all the gift shopping. Not after you've made sure that everyone else is happy. And not after you've magically transformed your body into some societal ideal.
There's no point in waiting to enjoy anything, especially the holidays. You're just going to move the goalposts like you've been doing your whole life.
Speaking of fabulous party clothes, we have some great pieces in stock. We've got sparkly stuff in addition to our usual sumptuous solids and prints. Sparkly clothing is appropriate for all sorts of fancy occasions (or whenever you're in a sparkly mood). I've discovered that people don't pay that much attention to what other people are wearing. Which means that you can wear the same dress or jacket all month long and then again next year.
Longtime readers know that I'm a firm believer in using fashion as armor. A well-fitting outfit that you love gives you the confidence to let go and let yourself enjoy every moment.