As I wind up my semester and begin holiday festivities, I find myself trying to remember to do less, not more.  It can be easy after an action-packed semester to want to take that jumpy energy into my downtime--no doubt this almost frantic energy is inflamed by the glitz of the season, holiday party obligations, last minute shopping...you could write a whole list of things you "have to do."  So this year, keeping all this in mind, I decided to actively work on making myself do less.

When I stop and pause, I find that the times I relax the most is when I am moving slowly, enjoying family and home.  In fact, our mantra over the Thanksgiving break became "no rushing, no schedules."  I'm carrying this mantra into the end of the semester and winter holidays in an effort to enjoy the little things: a hot mug of holiday spiced tea, twinkling Christmas lights, afternoons lost in a good book, tia-niece time...now that sounds like a to-do list that I can handle!

As I get ready to meet up with family for breakfast on this blustery morning and enjoy the crisp winter air on my morning walk, I leave you with words of wisdom from last year's post on the holiday season and the necessity of hibernation and rejuvenation. 

After all, the end of the year is really about self-care, enjoyment, and reflection.