Well, it’s that time of year again. The holidays are fully upon us. This time of year brings more time connecting with friends and family to enjoy special memories and traditions. The holidays are especially valuable this year because, for some, it may mean connecting with friends and family for the first time in two years as a result of COVID. For that reason, let me issue a challenge to you–BE PRESENT! I know we all love to take pictures and immediately post them to social media and then scroll through our respective timelines aimlessly, but, this year, why not try something different? By all means, take pictures, but wait to post them until a later date. The internet can wait. Work can wait. Put the technology away, and really be intentional about spending time with your loved ones.
Try to be wholly engaged with all of your senses because all experiences are enhanced when you do so.
Touch–Try to really embrace each other. We all experienced a loss of physical touch, some more than others, so cherish those hugs.
See–Look each other in the eyes as you laugh, cry, sing and yell.
Smell–Light your candles. Burn your incense. Diffuse your favorite essential oils, and let yourself get lost in the aromas. Smell can quickly change a stressful situation into a positive one. Scent is also the sense most closely associated with memory, so take the time to cement your ongoing traditions and new experiences into memory with those smells.
Taste–Don’t we all love the tastes of the holidays? Take the time to really savor your favorite foods and drinks. Don’t rush dinner. Eat slowly, and enjoy yourself.
Hear–Listen to good music. Listen to the laughter of those around you. Listen to your loved ones, and if you do happen to get some moments of silence, listen and enjoy those too.
2020 and 2021 have been challenging for us all. Hopefully, the time we’ve had apart from our loved ones has helped us all to realize how valuable that time is, so let’s take advantage of it now that we are seeing some glimpses of normalcy again. Put that technology away for a while, and just be present. You and your loved ones will be glad you did. Happy holidays!
