Everything in Between December
It's cold and crisp outside, and light snow has fallen as we are in the first week of December. The trees are bare, with nothing left but a nest where a bird and its family once lived. It is almost winter in the great NorthWest.
December 21st marks the winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. December 21st is also the day I gave birth to my only child, he turns 24 this year. The days are long but the years are short. And, time goes by.
The house is cold when I wake to take the dog out, so I start the fire, crawl back into bed for my morning meditation, and snuggle with my doggie before starting my day.
Journaling is a morning ritual. Lately, I have been writing about my angst and anxiety surrounding December and the holiday season. In the past, I held my breath through December and exhaled the day after New Year's.
With so many expectations this time of year. Family, friends, gatherings, food, gift-giving, and celebrations, not to mention the dynamics around those personalities and events, it feels like a lot.
However, this year, I am committing to adjusting my attitude; I'm turning over a new leaf, changing my proverbial spots. I'm going to embrace the season in all its glory!
I plan to enjoy time with friends, take long walks in the crispy sun with the leaves crunching under my feet and the brisk air hitting my fair complexion. I will wear my puffer coat and beanie hat as I stroll the streets of Seattle's quiet hill, Queen Anne. I will listen to podcasts and sit in my library with the fire in the fireplace, a big blanket, a good book, and my dog by my side.
I will practice yoga in the studio's warmth, where my bones and joints can stretch, so my body doesn't tighten during the cold season.
I will prepare homemade bone broth and various winter vegetable soups to warm and soothe my soul.
I will take loving care of the skin on my body with Epsom salt baths and rich, thick creams to hydrate my skin, and I will apply nutrient-rich oils to help my skin from cracking and itching from the bitterly cold weather.
I will stay hydrated with herbal teas and warm lemon water. I'll watch movies and youtube and sleep snuggled close to my dog as the months pass and the days start to lengthen again.
This routine will go on for months, and time will pass by. My memories of Christmas will fade, and I will have new things to look forward to.
The sun is low in the sky this time of year. The days are short, and now is the best time to get a chemical peel, laser resurfacing, or any other procedure that removes the surface layer of skin. Unfortunately, you still have to wear sunscreen if you have had a skin procedure of this nature. Sorry!
Lots of moisture on your facial skin to protect the barrier from the elements. If you are skiing, be sure to use a sun block and include under the chin and in the nostrils of your nose as the sun reflects off the snow. Apply SPF lip block and an SPF for under your eyes. Be sure to sanitize and wash all facial protection used for skiing. Protect your hands with a rich all purpose balm like the Gel Oil Cleansing Balm, it say’s “cleansing balm” but it was created to be an all purpose lubricant.
Protect your feet from moisture while out in the rain and cold and be sure to dry them thoroughly upon arriving home so as not to get a fungal infection in the nail bed or elsewhere on the foot.
I wish you all a restful, peaceful and happier holiday season.
xo Jamie