Rebecca Hastings
Celebrate, Connect, Community, Context The four C’s of the holiday season
Holiday preparations can be festive, but
lengthy to-do lists often cause people to lose track of the season’s wonder. It’s easy to get caught up in preparing for company, shopping for gifts, planning details and still getting laundry done. Don’t let responsibilities overshadow the magic and meaning of this time of year. If you already feel like you’re “in too deep,” there’s good news: making a change doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. It has to do with intention. Offer your family a wonder-filled season by focusing on the four Cs of the holidays.
Celebrate:
This time of the year is about celebrating and togetherness. When we focus only on the right gifts or perfect meal, it’s easy to forget about the actual celebration. Remind your family how to celebrate and enjoy the process. Get the kids involved by having them make a holiday recipe or table decorations. Encourage everyone (including kids) to shop for one gift for another person. Walk around together to see holiday décor and displays in your neighborhood. When you shift the focus to the celebration, everyone has more fun.
Connect: It’s always a good time to
connect with family and loved ones, but especially now. If your family is being pulled in every direction, be intentional about time together. Set aside one night a week for a winter movie night. Take the long way home when you’re all in the car to look at Christmas lights. Make hot chocolate and sit under a starry sky for 10 minutes together. Large amounts of time are not necessary to make connection a priority. When you are intentional about togetherness—even 15 minutes here or there—you feel more connected to those you love most.
24 • SanDiegofamily.com • December 2024