Gentle Joy

At this time of year most of us are getting ready to celebrate holidays, potentially spend more time with family, and engage in familiar traditions. While many of us have a great affinity for the holidays, we may also feel extra stressed because there is a busyness to the season. Traffic has gotten heavier because people are rushing to the stores to buy things. Everybody's racing to get their final work tasks done for the year. It can be a time of rushing around and not being able to have any moments of real stillness or peace.

But it's not just this time of year. We live in a culture that praises the idea of hustling to get as much money as you can; pulling yourself up by your bootstraps; and just generally working hard...all the time. These are things that are celebrated and seen as good. So if I were to bring up the idea of gentleness...I wonder as you read that word, how do you feel? If you just sit with the word gentle, even for 30 seconds, is there a part of you that is able to exhale or feel lighter?

What does gentle mean to you? And how can you bring more of it into your life? Merriam-Webster says that the word gentle means "free from harshness, sternness, or violence". And the truth is that many of us, myself most definitely included, have been harsh, stern, and violent to ourselves this year. So, my ask for this last post of the year, is that you consider the idea of gentleness and make an effort to allow more gentleness into your life.

That may mean slowing your pace when you're inclined to rush. It may mean time to sit and be still - no distractions, no TV, no phone. It may mean three minutes of intentional breathing. Or, it might just mean that you speak to yourself in a kinder, gentler way...and that you give yourself the grace that you might not have felt worthy to receive. Because let me assure you: we all deserve more grace. We all deserve moments of softness and appreciation. We all deserve to have gentleness in our everyday lives. Please invite that in. And please invite it in not just for this season, but throughout next year and beyond.