A Christmas Letter to Yourself

At the end of every Christmas season, I make a small list in the form of a letter, and I tuck it away in our decorations for next year’s me. I never know what my life will look like in 365 days, and the nostalgia can creep in when I consider how much our lives may change in a single year.

Sometimes thinking that far into the future can feel daunting, but the post-Christmas letter is a helpful tool for next year’s me to make life a little bit easier. The notes I make vary over time but the essence remains the same. Post-holiday-blitz-me knows what next-year-me needs to know, and here’s the secret—it’s always some variation of Do Less.

Though our Yuletide celebrations are always special, the Christmas magic is lost if my wellness has been sacrificed in the process.  What end-of-Christmas-me knows is that the quality of what I can give is a different calibre if I don’t spread myself too thin. Now, of course, this seems obvious, that we shouldn’t pile our plates too high, and yet, bit by bit, the holiday season calls us to extend ourselves in our already busy lives.

This is the beauty of the letter. The letter me is wise. She’s already done it. She reminds me what works and what doesn’t so I don’t find myself knee-deep in wrapping paper at 2AM on Christmas Eve.

If you’re without a letter for this year, I would encourage you to remember last year before you’re in too deep. What worked? What didn’t? What can you do differently? What can you change so you can be really present and able to enjoy the magic? Because the truth is, Christmas cheer isn’t just for the kids; there’s a bit of magic in the holidays for all of us.

Jacquelyn Toupin is a birthkeeper & intuitive healer supporting women to evolve into their truest selves. You can follow along on her Instagram @the.art.of.mothering