Hi Reader,

This morning, I sat in my dark living room watching the lights on my Christmas tree twinkle. It made me grateful for this season before the busy day started. This season has so much beauty to it: the lights, nostalgia, and comfort foods.

It also has so much pressure.

We take that pressure on ourselves and don't even realize that by the end of the year we're basically wearing our shoulders as earrings.

December has a magical quality to it...and a lot of that magic falls on the shoulders of moms, grandmas, and aunts who somehow pull it all off. As an adult I realize how much of Santa's magic was really my parents hustling.

There's also a lot of family dynamics going on right now. Maybe travel. End of year work pushes. And the whole "New Year, New You" vibe looming in the near distance.

But December isn't a month for pushing. It's a month for resting. It's a month of rejuvenation. Toxic capitalism tells us that we've gotta push harder. Especially after this banner year of wtf, we need a break.

You deserve a break.

I don't think you need permission to do the following activities, but the reminder never hurts:

What NOT to do in December:

• Don't try to fix your whole life before January
• Don't go into debt trying to prove your love to someone
• Don't base your joys on "shoulds"
• Don't compare your December to anyone's on Instagram or Pinterest
• Don't over-plan out of panic
• Don't abandon yourself to keep the peace

And don't forget to have fun this December. Remember if something costs your well-being, it isn't peace. It's actually a form of self-abandonment and you deserve better than that.

So tell me, what's something you're excited to do sometime in the rest of the month, and what's something you intend NOT to do? Hit reply & let me know!

xoxo,
Megan