🌲 How I stay Grounded During Christmas

Alice Ranker
13 minutes ago
3 min read

This weekend, we decorated the house for Christmas. I saved the tree for last, mostly because Alyssa likes to help decorate the tree but also because it’s a lot of work to transform the house for the holiday and waiting to do the tree the next day allows me to really engage and cherish the process.

As I opened the tubs of ornaments I’ve collected for more than 40 years I was swept up in the memories of previous Christmases. Each ornament holds a special place in my heart. Alyssa and I share memories as we place them on the branches. Alyssa was telling Tina, (My friend from Germany, who currently lives with us while on a student visa.) about our traditions with decorating and baking while learning about German traditions she holds.

The holiday season, while filled with joy and magic, can still be filled with a range of emotions for me, sometimes experiencing moments of heaviness and grief and other times pure delight.

When we decorate the tree, we drink mulled wine and have The Grinch, playing in the background, of course the Jim Carey version. Traditions help me stay grounded. I’m not rushed and I can pause to hold the ornaments and think about past holidays and people that I love, places that I have lived and worked.

I use these elements to ground me and I hope this is a part of my tradition, my legacy that will be passed on to my children and grandchildren, how the elements of the holiday can be grounding instead of filled with rush and anxiety.

Take time to feel each ornament. Listen to the music or the fire crackle. Smell the pine and cinnamon. And allow the illumination of the lights to remind you to breathe.

Now, I know that not all of our memories are good, even or especially around the holidays. But, we can choose where we focus and allow the good ones, the neutral ones to linger and let the hard ones pass through. Choose to feel the holiday, set aside a time to sit with your memories instead of rushing to the next thing.

On the top of my tree I have this gorgeous Santa face with a cape that drapes down the back of the tree. I love him. I get so excited every year when I open his box. I just think he’s so pretty.

To me, Santa represents the very spirit of generosity. He is a reminder of love, joy, and kindness.

When I place him on the top of the tree, he sets the stage and the mood for the rest of the decorating. I’m reminded that generosity isn’t about the gifts. It’s how we show up, how I show up. How we soften and make room for the magic.

If Thanksgiving was your warm-up, decorating the tree is where we find our breath again. We survived the first holiday and we can choose how we go through the remainder of the year, the celebrations, and gatherings.

Here are some grounding practices you can use during that holiday season.