Much ado about holidays

What do the holidays mean to you? Are they just time day off of work, time with friends and family a chance to eat copious amounts of pie? For me it is a sacred moment on the calendar. A gold star if you will. Where you are awoken from the slumber of your daily routine and awaken into authentic self spending time with people doing the things that give you satisfaction. Hopefully you and your guests part with the nutrition, friendship, and gratitude for a time well spent. Like the saying goes, merry meet and merry part.

It would be lovely if that rose tinted picture were true for everyone. However, I have seen and experienced the other end of the holiday spectrum. I end up rushing around; shopping crazy, there is a need to get it just right. I imagine you and the family would be perfectly fine just having a simple meal and watching a movie. Right? The stakes all the sudden seem to be higher when they are big commercialized holidays looming such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Whether it’s a big adult themed Halloween or Samhain party. Or having to evaluate who’s thanksgiving invite you have to say no to it can all be very stressful when you’re supposed to be relaxing and being in the moment celebrating.

How can we alleviate this unnecessary pressure and anxiety? It is often easier said than done. More importantly, how does your creative process; be it professional or hobby, play into your holiday experience? Consistently, I find myself falling back on tried and true methods. When I don’t my mood and physical body let me know it’s been too long since I picked up and brush or pen and allowed myself to experience the act of creating.

I encourage you to be patient with yourself. Whether it means taking a more mindful approach of what a holiday celebration really means to you. Allow yourself to enjoy writing, playing music, making art or playing with your kids or pets without judgment, guilt, or comparing to others. Trust your process. You are not in charge of anyone else’s happiness but your own. Chose to enjoy the moment to create and celebrate.

About the writer: Carolina Medina-Dupaix, MA. Art Therapy Counseling is a professional artist and counselor residing in Honolulu, HI. She and Julianna A.B. Roberts are the founders of Visual Elements Press which is celebrating its inaugural publication of Under a Hallow Moon, a graphic arts book exploring the playful and spooky elements of the 31 days of October.

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