The Year We Celebrated Differently and Loved It More

There was something I learned a long time ago to protect my peace and my family’s peace during the holidays, and that was to be flexible with plans. This even included changing the actual day we celebrated the holiday on.

I was reflecting on that recently, because it not only removed so much unnecessary conflict, but gave us a wonderful memory with our father before he passed. This took place the year of his cancer diagnosis, when we weren’t sure how much time, let alone quality time, we had left with him. So we did something we hadn’t done since before our parents’ divorce. My siblings and I planned to spend Thanksgiving with him.

Since we were all scattered hundreds of miles away, we rented an Airbnb near him and my aunt. But there was one problem: family dynamics. The details aren’t necessary here, but we needed a game plan because he was already spoken for on Thanksgiving Day itself.

Now see, we could have created a big stir and made it all about us. It was our father, after all, and we were spending money and making time to share this event with him. But giving an ultimatum seemed childish and petty, and the conflict itself wasn’t in a good place to be resolved, yet. So we stayed flexible, knowing it wasn’t about us. It was about the intention behind wanting to celebrate with him for the first time in decades.

We planned a separate meal for Friday instead of Thursday, and had a special little dinner for ourselves at the house we rented for Thanksgiving itself.

The next day, we showed up at my aunt’s house in Southern California. We cooked most of the meal at our place, and since my aunt didn’t have a large dining table, I came fully equipped with folding tables, extra chairs, tablecloths, table settings, garland, and candles for the table runner. As you can tell, I don’t mess around when it comes to my holiday tablescapes.

We had a beautiful meal with our father that year and memories that weren’t tainted by stress or resentment. The food was nourishing. The laughter was infectious. There was so much to be grateful for as we focused on being in the moment, not dwelling on the “what could have been” of the past and not sitting in anguish about the future.

Just family and togetherness.

I’ll leave you with that as my wellness tip of the week. I hope that whatever you are doing this holiday season, you honor the intention and make that the main course.

True Grit Podcast

I’m dropping these episodes twice a week on Monday & Wednesday mornings. But Wednesdays just got extra special as I have a limited holiday series of mini episodes called “Savor: A Season of Ease”

11/17 - Plateaus, Blind Spots & Burnout: The Truth About Going It Alone

Breaks down when it’s truly time to invest in a coach — and why the “do-it-yourself” approach to health and fitness often costs you more in time, energy, and frustration than it saves in money.

11/19 - Fitness That Fits Your Busy Holidays— If you’re craving a gentler, more sustainable way to approach your health through the holidays, you’re in the right place. Let this episode be your permission slip to breathe, adjust, and support yourself without the stress spiral.

Your True Grit

There’s a common issue I keep coming across and that is people needing more insight into what is going on with them physiologically. Yet insurance companies and medical practices tend to get in the way of running not only simple, yet important tests, but also not looking at them from optimal ranges.

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And right now there are some beautiful Black Friday sales occurring. It is certainly worth checking out all that they have to offer, so you can step into the new year with a more solid idea of how you can optimize your health.

And do not forget to check out my new group program

Phoenix Rising

Where challenge becomes renewal, and community becomes strength

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