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I personally love Advent and the Winter Solstice; I love the ritual of it, and I love wishing everyone hope, peace, love, and joy. I love the calmness that it highlights—the calmness of curling up with a good book, a warm beverage, candles, and a fire playing on the TV.
I also love parts of Christmas—all the lights, all the treats, all the concerts—but often find it to be a bit too much, a bit too busy, a bit too overstimulating. As a kid, I always wanted to sleep in on Christmas, much to my parents chagrin.
Now I understand that personally, for my neurodivergent brain, the holidays can be challenging for a number of reasons, such as having my routines and patterns changed and having less time to regroup because of all the activities that are occurring.
You do not have to love the holidays. No matter what you are feeling —joy or sorrow, excitement or stress, energized or exhausted—it is important to honor those feelings. There are no right or wrong ways to celebrate this time of year.
I also love parts of Christmas—all the lights, all the treats, all the concerts—but often find it to be a bit too much, a bit too busy, a bit too overstimulating. As a kid, I always wanted to sleep in on Christmas, much to my parents chagrin.
Now I understand that personally, for my neurodivergent brain, the holidays can be challenging for a number of reasons, such as having my routines and patterns changed and having less time to regroup because of all the activities that are occurring.
You do not have to love the holidays. No matter what you are feeling —joy or sorrow, excitement or stress, energized or exhausted—it is important to honor those feelings. There are no right or wrong ways to celebrate this time of year.
