Happy Your-Style holiday!

December 2024

To anyone who’s finding the holiday season a little hard this year…

Maybe you’re working long hours like so many of my friends in hospitality, making someone else’s holiday magical while your family is miles away. Maybe you’re spending it solo, feeling like you’re the only one who didn’t get the memo about “holiday cheer.” Or maybe life’s just been tough lately, and all the Christmas Carols and jingles feel more like reminders of what’s missing than what’s merry.

Can I just say: it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. There’s no rule that says you have to be joyful just because it’s December. Sometimes, the best gift you can give yourself is the space to just be.

I’m spending the holiday season in Portugal this year—a place I’ve grown to love during the months I live here each year. And while there’s a beautiful warmth in Portuguese traditions, I’ve noticed something funny about the tradition of Christmas Eve dinner: bacalhau cozido—boiled codfish. Let’s just say it doesn’t exactly scream “holiday magic” to me (or to plenty of my Portuguese friends!). Many of them, instead of sticking with the codfish, have created their own festive meals, adding their own twist to tradition.

It just goes to show—sometimes the best way to celebrate is to throw out the rulebook and rewrite your own recipe.

Here’s my tried-and-true recipe for a Not-So-Traditional holiday season:

🦋 1 dash of rebellion: Forget what everyone else is doing. No tree? No problem. No ugly Christmas jumper? Even better.

🦋 A generous helping of comfort: Pyjamas all day? Yes, please. Your favourite movie or a delivery pizza? Absolutely.

🦋 A sprinkle of connection: Message that one friend who always gets you. Call someone who loves you, even if you’re not in a festive mood.

🦋 Optional garnish: Do something completely unexpected. Make dumplings, dance like no one’s watching, or hey, try boiled codfish—just for fun.

The point is, you don’t need to follow the crowd to find meaning in the holidays. Sometimes, the most authentic celebrations come from rewriting the script and making it your own.

So if you’re not feeling festive this year, that’s okay. Make it restful. Make it joyful in your way. And most importantly, make it yours.

Wishing you a very Happy Your-Style Holidays! ❣️