Christmas
is in our recent rearview mirror, and New Year’s is almost here. This
in-between week can feel like a strange mix of gratitude, exhaustion, leftover
desserts… and that quiet voice that whispers, “I should be doing
better.”
Let’s
pause and reframe that.
This
week is not a test of your willpower. It’s a practice of grace.
Grace
is the ability to enjoy a moment—fully—without turning it into a story of
failure. It’s permission to be human while still honoring who you’ve become.
A
mindful pause
Before
we move on to what’s next, take a breath with me. Let’s pause before we turn
the page:
In... 2 - 3 - 4 - HOLD -
Out... 2 - 3 - 4
Once
more:
In...
2 - 3 - 4 - HOLD - Out...
2 - 3 - 4
Great...
now...
How was
your Christmas—really? Beyond the food, the lists, and the pace of it all, did
you notice the unwrapped gifts— presence, a quiet moment, a good
conversation, a shared laugh, a sense of love or meaning, maybe even faith and
peace? However, it went, let it be information—not a judgment. And if part of
you is saying, “I wish I had slowed down more… or I wish that had gone
differently,” that’s not a reason for guilt. It’s simply an invitation for
grace.
This
week isn’t about perfection
This is
the week when the inner rules can get loud.
Maybe
you indulged a little more than usual at Christmas dinner. Maybe you are like
me, and dessert is your weakness. Maybe you’re planning to ring in the New Year
with friends and there will be more appetizers, more sweets, and more “just
this once” moments.
Here’s
what I want you to know: allowing yourself grace lets you enjoy without
feeling like you failed. Not your diet. Not your lifestyle. Not
your progress.
Because
you need to remember that JOY is part of living.
I want
this post to do something important: not limit you, not lecture you, not make
you feel like you’re “slipping.” I want it to give you permission to enjoy—without
guilt—and to feel understood and to feel seen, because you are not alone.
The
“new you” doesn’t disappear during the holidays
Here is
the mindset shift I want you to hold this week:
You are
not “backsliding” because you had Christmas dinner.
You are not the “old you” because you enjoyed dessert.
You are a person with a healthier lifestyle—and that lifestyle has room
for joy.
Grace
still has wisdom in it
Grace
is giving yourself permission to enjoy this season without the guilt story
playing over and over in your head at the end of the day. It doesn’t mean
ignoring what you know your body needs or stepping away from the supports that
keep you well. It means you hold your choices with kindness. Enjoy what’s
meaningful, stay aligned with what matters, and let your self-talk be gentle
either way.
For
many of us, grace also looks like intentional enjoyment—the kind
you choose knowingly (not mindlessly), savor fully (not guiltily), and then
release without a mental penalty.
A
simple Grace Practice for this week
Not
“getting back on track.” Not “starting over.” Just practicing who you already
are.
1)
Pause before you plate.
One breath. One intention: “I’m here to enjoy this.”
2)
Sit down and remove distractions.
Because when you slow down, you actually notice what you’re eating—and what
you’re feeling.
3)
Choose one indulgence on purpose.
Instead of
“everything because I already messed up,” try:
“I’m choosing this because it’s special—and I’m going to savor it.”
4)
Speak to yourself like someone you love.
Replace: “I blew it.”
With: “I enjoyed a celebration. I’m still me.”
5)
Make room for the unwrapped gifts.
The best parts
of the holidays are often invisible: a peaceful morning, a meaningful
conversation, a shared laugh, a memory you’ll carry.
Journal
prompts (quick, powerful, and gentle)
If you
want to bring this into your journal this week, here are a few prompts I love:
- What did I enjoy most about
this holiday that had nothing to do with food or gifts?
- Where did I show up well
for myself and others?
- What does “grace” look like
in my self-talk this week?
- What is one tradition I
want to carry into the New Year—because it supports the person I’m
becoming?
- What do I want to feel on
January 1: calm, clear, connected, energized, hopeful?
(Need
a new Journal for January? Click here to begin your year with intention
and clarity with my "30 Days to Becoming Intentionally Calm"
Journal with Bonus Goal Section - Available through FGSL HERE)
If you
indulged a little more than usual—at Christmas dinner, at dessert, or you plan
to celebrate again as you ring in the New Year—let it be a chapter,
not a verdict.
You are
allowed to enjoy your life. Lifestyle medicine is meant to support sustainable
wellbeing over time—not punish you for one meal, one party, or one week.
Next
week, we’ll talk about stepping into the New Year with simple, realistic, kind steps—easy
ways to return to what makes you feel good, without the harsh “start over”
energy.
For
this week: choose grace.
In
Closing...
What is
one word you want to carry into the New Year?
------------------------------------------------------------
Happy
Holidays, Happy New Year & Happy You!
Love,
Mary-Anne
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