The holidays can be a strange time.

They’re supposed to be the most magical weeks of the year—yet they’re layered with stress, loss, expectations, performative pressure, and the kind of childhood memories that still hit you in the throat decades later.

Believe me… I get it.My mom once threw our Christmas tree down the basement stairs, and I did receive an actual letter from Santa warning that if I didn’t “tighten it up,” he was taking my presents back. Iconic.So no—my holiday memories weren’t perfect. But I also remember the magic: the joy, the excitement, the TV specials, the parties, the whole month of dreamy build-up. That electric moment of wondering what waited downstairs…and then the slow, painful death of waiting for my dad to make his coffee before we could start unwrapping.

If I’m being honest, I think the pandemic changed how we move through the holiday season. I see it every day behind the chair.Clients go to fewer parties. They host less. They feel “off.”There’s this quiet pressure to feel light and bright, but with the world being heavy, the economy being scary, and life continuing to life… it’s hard to fake joy you don’t feel.

This year, I actually felt inspired to host a Christmas party for the first time in forever—because I can feel the collective sadness, the loneliness, the exhaustion. And if I’m feeling it, and my clients are feeling it, I know I’m not alone.

So here’s your permission slip:Feel exactly how you’re feeling. No holiday perfection required.

And maybe—just maybe—we can all step out of our shells a bit more this season. Because I truly believe community helps us heal. Being together matters. Small moments of connection matter.

Wishing you softness, warmth, and whatever version of the holidays feels true to you.

Xo,Meghan