Charlotte Gyllenhammar, Fall III, 1999; Cibachrome print mounted on aluminum, 38 x 39 in.; National Museum of Women in the Arts, Gift of Heather and Tony Podesta Collection; © Charlotte Gyllenhammar (℅ nmwa.org)
Shorter days and colder nights invite our creativity to turn inward, waiting for us to dive once more into a rich inner world while the earth quiets down. Our gardens are now bare and, in their graceful decay, deliver nutrients back to the soil that nourished them as the year comes to an end. Look yourself in the mirror and offer gratitude to the woman looking back at you: she knows your journey and your goals, and is so proud of all you have accomplished this year. She is your reflection, the part of you who will always see yourself for who you truly are and all that led you here. Don’t forget to leave room for her as we settle in for hibernation… that inner self love is what keeps us warm through the Winter!
In the spirit of slowing down for the season, our regularly scheduled Between the Bio Podcast and Instagram inspo will be taking a break for the month of December. Rest assured you will still get your weekly dose of Friday blogs! In the meantime, we would love to hear about how you’re settling in for the Winter – both for hibernation and holiday festivities.
It seems like every season sweeps in with a boost of confidence, and this one is no different. It’s a chance to start fresh with many things, including means of self-expression. Are you more of a scarf gal, or a cozy sweater gal? How tall do you like your boots? Hats or headbands?
Once again we take that confidence right up to the coffee shop counter and order that pumpkin spice latte donned in our gayest apparel – whether flannel or formal – and revel in the cozy cuteness that the holiday rush has to offer. ‘Tis the season! And we will shamelessly enjoy every moment.
That’s why we’re delivering a very special holiday read for you today. This time of year comes with a whirlwind of chaos and happy memories, just like our favorite holiday movies, and we want you to feel like the brightest star atop the tree along the way.
And what’s the best way to feel like a star? By embracing your main character energy, of course.
When we embrace our Main Character Energy, what we’re not doing is demanding a spotlight and applause for everything we do. On the contrary, we create our own spotlight of self-trust that unleashes a world of freedom and permission to do what we feel and believe is right. This energy is not just for those big movie moments though – whether you’re out hitting the holiday sales with your besties or quietly taking time for yourself, it means doing everything you do with intention and knowing that you’re making the right choice about how and where your time is spent.
Now that we’ve established your wardrobe, let’s get into your set and filming location: where are you spending the holidays this year? Are you visiting your grandparents in your tiny hometown after years of the corporate grind in a big city? Are you staying home with your family and planning a big meal, and perhaps quietly uneasy about how your son will handle that Red Ryder BB Gun? Maybe your heart is fluttering with the magic of the season and you’re just waiting for that handsome neighbor to notice you…
With your picturesque (and real life) setting in mind, tell us about your character. Some of us thrive at brunch with besties before a day of shopping, excitedly planning to wear our favorite Winter outfits to the upcoming parade. Of course, there’s nothing like gathering with family to decorate the house and enjoy seasonal snacks and beverages by the fireplace, either. If you’re one of those people who just loves working with the holiday rush, we want to thank you and all that you do for helping to make this a joyful time of year for others!
Of course, every holiday movie comes with a twist. For us living our real everyday lives, sometimes it’s a little easier to see that third act conflict coming since we are intimately familiar with our unscripted patterns of behavior. Personally, I leave everything until the last minute. Katie, on the other hand… phew! That woman does it all, and begins before December to make sure everything gets wrapped with a bow. You can likely see where our own Hallmark movie twists would get us into a pickle. Whatever the twist may be for you, have a sigh and roll your eyes here, because it’s the perfect time of year to laugh it off. We can always order Chinese food if someone overcooks the ham, and that in itself will swirl with the snowflakes into a shared holiday memory. Grab some sleigh bells and jingle that worry away.
Speaking of Hallmark moments, no main character in a holiday movie goes without a final, heartwarming scene where all that matters is the love and joy of the season. Of course, this won’t be your final scene, just the perfect setting for your holiday happy place: a kiss at a Christmas parade, a snuggle by the fireplace, a house full of joy and freshly opened presents. A moment in time where you realize everything fell perfectly into place for you to realize what you truly celebrate every year.
We can’t wait to hear about how you’re slaying this holiday season with #MainCharacterEnergy. May your sweaters be as soft as your Hallmark movie moments, and may your snow angels fly high with our well wishes for you this season.
+ view the comments
