Calm Christmas and A Happy New Year

CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR is written by Beth Kempton, a best-selling author (Freedom Seeker; We Are All in This Together) who advocates for doing what you love and living well, often times tied to the concept of Hygge. Here, she has divided “A Little Book of Festive Joy” into three sections: anticipation; activity during the holidays themselves and reflection afterwards.  There are numerous references to childhood and a unique introduction to the five stories (faith, magic, connection, abundance, and heritage) of Christmas which she readily acknowledges will resonate differently for each reader. Throughout, Kempton includes a series of questions, providing an almost meditative feel and help in de-stressing from late November through early January.  Eventually, she mentions “another chance for a fresh beginning” and refers to a more seasonal approach, “moving gently into January with grace and hope.”  As we move forward into 2021, it’s worth considering her advice to block out chunks of time on a new calendar for “unknown goodness coming my way …. Schedule[ing] time to open up space for new possibilities [cooking together?] and to work on our dreams.” I look forward to revisiting CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR throughout the year.