I desire connection.
I’ve spent the past six months defining and refining separate lists of values for myself, my family, and my business. It’s clear that one of my top values is connection. Relationships are a priority for me and something I highly value.
This is why it was important for me to show up to the annual Cookie Party. I’ve been invited five years in a row, and I’ve never been able to make it for one reason or another. I decided that this year would be my first.
Before deciding to go, I went through the classic list of reasons for and against my attending. Basically, it came down to not wanting to come home with 100 cookies. You see, that’s how the cookie party works. You show up with 100 cookies, and you go home with 100 cookies. That’s a LOT of white sugar, butter, and flour, all of the ingredients for some really good mucus this time of year.
Can you tell why I’m not really a fan?
What I am a fan of is the ladies hosting and gathering as part of the cookie party. Now that I work from home and have a different rhythm to my days, I don’t see the people I care about nearly as often. This was one way to show up in alignment with my value of connection on a few different levels.
So, I played the game. I showed up with 100 raw, vegan, chocolate macaroons. In case you want to make them yourself (which highly recommend) mix together the following ingredients in a bowl: 3 cups shredded coconut, 1.5 cups cocoa powder, ⅓ cup coconut oil, 1/2 cup maple syrup, ½ t sea salt, 1T vanilla. Use a cookie scoop and place them on your dehydrator screen at 105degrees for 12 hours.
The party has a contest component. The best cookie wins. I got one vote for my macaroons and a text a few days later from my friend Julie (who happened to win with her chocolate/peanut butter bon bons) that she still thinks my cookies were the best. I do believe they were the one cookie on the table that would leave everyone feeling their best, that’s for sure!
Are you wondering what I did with the cookies? In alignment with my value of connection, the moment I got home I packaged the cookies up into five pretty boxes, loaded Miles and the cookies into the wagon, and delivered them to our neighbors. We had such a good time wheeling around, spreading love in the neighborhood with our cookies. We see most of our neighbors with a short wave over the steering wheel as they drive by, so this was the perfect way of taking a moment to acknowledge each of them and connect. I was left feeling so full. The fullness wasn’t from sugar, butter, or flour, but from sheer gratitude for the relationships in my life.
Spend a little time thinking through your holiday schedule that is coming up, and make a plan. How do you want to show up?Here are a few holiday party tips to consider in the next few weeks. Be sure to take care of yourself, and choose connection over confection. You’ll thank yourself the next day!
Holiday Party Tips:
- Eat at home before the party. Nourish yourself with your own foods, and show up at the party ready to mingle. Potlucks can leave you feeling bloated and gassy due to the food combinations.
- Bring your favorite dish. If you are going to a potluck and don’t eat in advance, be sure to plan in advance and bring your favorite dish. This way, you know you have something to eat that you love and that leaves you feeling nourished.
- Drink plenty of water. If you decide to have a glass of wine or champagne, drink water in between toasts.
- Take a few deep breaths. You’ll be hydrated, so when you head to the bathroom take a few deep, conscious breaths. This will be really important if you tend towards social anxiety. Deep breathing is key to grounding your energy.
- Get to bed early. My cookie party was during the day, so I didn’t have to worry about this one, but the hours you sleep before midnight are worth double to your immune system!
Enjoy your holiday!
If you find yourself wondering whether or not you should do x, y, or z, ask yourself if it aligns with your values. For me right now, the question is will this dissolve or strengthen connection? The answer helps guide me to make choices more aligned with my value of connection this holiday season.
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Rachel Peters is a yoga teacher, yoga health coach, lifestyle and habits expert, easeful living advocate, and lover of wild places. She leads others towards Embodying Ease through a yearlong wellness & lifestyle journey to dissolve perfectionism, embody daily habits that promote mental clarity, overall ease, and deeper connection to life on this wild ride of modern living. Learn MORE today!