🕯️Five Quick Things 004
Ideas for stillness and a free wallpaper🕯️
We’re in week four of Advent and the craziness of the season is in full swing. I’m determined to continue with a slower pace this year all the way up to Christmas Eve. This week, I’m sending five quick (and free!) ideas to help you lean into stillness, whenever and wherever you can find it.
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One
Every Monday, I connect with a writing partner about our weekly goals. This morning I shared that my number one goal is to “Just take one thing at a time. Embrace the slow.” After we agreed that was a fantastic mantra for the week, I created a wallpaper for my phone. If you, like me, need a constant reminder to just take one thing at a time this week, here’s the phone wallpaper I made.
Right click on the image from your phone and save to photos. Then set it as your wallpaper. Easy as pie. And just remember: it’s okay to only do one thing at a time.
Two
This weekend, I ignored all of the chores, made a bowl of popcorn, and we snuggled up on the couch to watch Miracle on 34th Street. I highly recommend setting aside time this week for family movie time. It was such a great way to block out the world and spend a few hours simply being with one another.
Not sure what to watch? My other favorites are Little Women, The Holiday, Prancer, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and The Man Who Invented Christmas. I love breaking out the old DVD player for these because libraries have them all and love to loan them out!
Three
This is a magical time of year for reading. Head to the library and check out a cozy Christmas book. When you get home, light a candle (or four) and curl up on the couch under a blanket. Ignore the world for an hour or two. It’s okay if you eat leftovers for dinner.
Don’t know what to read? You can never go wrong with anything by Jenny Colgan. Last year I read The Bookshop on the Corner and The Bookshop on the Shore in record time. Although neither are “Christmas” books, there’s something about a good bookshop story that screams Christmas to me. This year, my book club is reading Christmas on the Island.
Want a quick, family-friendly read? The kids and I just read The Boy Called Christmas and it’s adorable. Have you ever thought about when Santa Claus was a kid?
Four
Use your hands to create. Maybe it’s baking cookies, crocheting a scarf, or making handmade ornaments. The creative process lends itself to naturally slowing us down. Cookies aren’t baked in an instant. Crocheting any project takes time. Hand stitching ornaments requires us to move in gentle but confident movements. Whatever you choose, be intentional about going through the motions. By the time you’re done, your heart and mind will be a little bit calmer than when you started.
Need inspiration? I’m working on a smaller version of this scarf for each of my kids. Today, we’re working on finishing up these ornaments together. And I shared my very favorite Christmas cookie recipe in last week’s Insider News. Tell all your friends!
Five
A friend recently asked me what I’m most excited about for Christmas. I told her I am so excited church is on Sunday this year! It isn’t very often that we have the opportunity to gather with our church family on one of the most important days in the church calendar. I was surprised to read that many churches are canceling services this year (gifted article).
In a world where the season feels so commercialized, offering a worship service on Christmas Sunday gives people a way to slow down and appreciate the gift of Christmas. It will shift how we do Christmas morning, and we’ll probably spread out most of the gift opening, but I am thrilled to sing all my favorite Christmas songs with whoever else shows up Sunday morning.
What about you? Will you go to church on Sunday?
My regular monthly newsletter will come out Monday and then I’m taking a short publishing break. Five Quick Things will return in mid-January. Need a recommendation? Send me a quick message and I’ll do my best to include it!
Until next time,
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