Despite the outcome of the recent election, I am still finding reasons to be thankful and practice gratitude during this holiday season. I have a wonderful circle of close friends, I can still converse with my family and spend time with them, and I’ve enjoyed enough steady freelance work the last couple of months to pay my bills and stay on top of things. I’m not going to preach about fighting the good fight, or never giving up hope, or staying cheerful no matter what. For one thing, it’s just not practical for everyone right now, myself included. What I can share, is that there’s no better time than the present for practicing self-care.

Good Company

It can be all too easy to get lost in social obligations, trying in vain to create the perfect meal, or worrying too much about how we’re stacking up to others at this time of year. We need to let ourselves off the hook, take a deep breath, and cut ourselves some slack. Visiting should be about the people, not the places. The setting is a backdrop, and the food we share together is a complement to the good company. Plus, there is no such thing as perfection–so there, too.

 Lingering over that morning cup of coffee, consciously making time to write in one’s journal, reading a good cozy mystery, enjoying in an afternoon of home crafted beauty pampering treatments are just a few of the myriad of ways we can nurture ourselves and give ourselves a little extra TLC. We all do deserve some, to be sure.

Celebrations

This also ties in nicely to why I’m choosing to air an evergreen episode of “Women Who Howl at the Moon,” this month. It features a second gathering of the Milwaukee Fun Girls, who’ve been guests on the show three times now. It’s a great little circle of spirited and talkative women who like to live life and yes, have fun. This was a surprise 60^th Birthday party for one of the guests/Halloween/Day of the Dead fiesta, and we had such a good time with each other that evening. The camaraderie lingers and gives it a timeless feel that I think we can all enjoy, no matter what time of year it is. So do that, and take good care of yourselves, until we meet again.