Do What Feels Good

As you may know, I am Jewish. 

But, I’ll be the first to admit that Christmas time in New York City is one of my favorite times of the year. 

The holiday markets, the festive lights and the tree at Rockfeller are just so incredibly magical. 

And, oh the Christmas music that plays as you walk through every store!

I have never been one to think, “Enough with the Christmas music!” I just love it. Especially the old classic ones. 

However. However… 

I never, ever play Christmas music in my home. 

Maybe it’s because Jewish guilt is real and it feels like I am doing something wrong, but, I have never just flipped on Darlene Love’s Christmas while sitting around in my cozy slippers and sweats.

(If you are Jewish, you probably understand. If you are not, I hope you are not offended by it! It’s a weird, complicated thing:)

But, the other day, I was going through the Letting Go of 2020 workshop for The Movement, journaling and reflecting on the past year.

And before I knew it, tears started to stream down my face. 

And more tears. And then some more. 

This year has just been so hard. And lonely. And challenging. And fear driven.  And filled with grief on so many levels. For so many people. 

I am not trying to be a downer here. There was something really powerful about acknowledging and FEELING my grief. It felt good to let it out and let it flow. 

So, do you know what I did next?

I put on some freakin’ Christmas music! The classics! Played it all morning long. Because this year, I am not going into stores and shops. I am not going to the holiday markets and sadly, I am not even in New York City. 

And probably like you, I have missed so much this year.

And so, I just felt like I needed the Christmas music to lifts my spirits.

Just like I need to make a “warm drink” as my daughter calls it, of hot cocoa, everyday around 4:30pm when the freakin’ sun sets. 

That’s why I need to let my daughter watch more TV than she ever has before, so that I get a little quiet time to myself. 

That’s why I need to go for long walks so that I feel grounded. 

That’s why I needed to put an autoresponder on my email that says it might be a while before I reply to your email. 

We need to do things to help us feel good. 

To bring about simple pleasures. 

To feel more ourselves.

To feel more connected. 

If there is one thing that came out of my reflections of this past year it’s the need to take care of others in need, and the need to take supreme care of myself, sometimes in ways I normally wouldn’t. 

As we close out 2020, my wish for all of us is that we reflect on the last year with a heart of compassion, and gratitude where it is appropriate. 

May we have compassion and gratitude for the health care workers and the essential workers.

May we have compassion and gratitude for the teachers and the child care workers.

May we have compassion for everyone that worked extra hours to make ends meet, lost their jobs or struggled to stay afloat.

May we have compassion for those people that longed to be with their loved ones but couldn’t, or worse, lost loved ones.

And of course, may we have compassion and gratitude for ourselves, for all that we have been through and all the ways we have risen. 

If you would like to go through the Letting Go of 2020 Workshop, it is now available inside The Movement. Click here to join.

Here’s to a happy and healthy holiday season. May you find peace and ease in however you chose to spend it.

With love,
Erin

P.S. The Letting Go of 2020 Workshop is now inside The Movement. Here is what a few people have said:

“Thank you so much for this Erin! Loved doing this work with you, perfect ending to a wild ride of a year.”

“Thank you so much for this workshop and for you knowing just what to share with us! Deep bow of gratitude to you.”