the unnecessary choice

Dec 25

Dear Reader,

Christmas can be tender. It can also be a lot.

Even on a good Christmas, there can be an undercurrent of trying to get everything just right. We want people to feel loved, and we want the day to carry meaning. We want to hold onto what’s special, too, and sometimes all of that becomes pressure, especially if you’re the one carrying the invisible details.

So here is a softer way to practice intentionality today. Look for one choice you can make that isn’t required of you, but is kind to you. Something small that reminds you that you’re allowed to exist inside the day, not just manage it. Maybe it’s sitting down for a few minutes before moving on to the next thing. Maybe it’s stepping outside for air. Maybe it’s letting yourself enjoy one moment without reaching for the next one.

These small choices matter because they bring you back. They help the day feel less like something you have to perform and more like something you can receive. They make room for what’s here, even when it’s mixed. Even when joy and grief are sitting at the same table. Even when you miss someone. Even when your heart feels both full and tired.

If you want a simple practice for Christmas Day, choose one unnecessary act of gentleness and do it slowly. Let it be quiet. Let it be yours. Sometimes that is enough to bring you back to the heart of the day.

Merry Christmas and God bless,