5 ways to fill up your cup

The holidays are upon us!

You might be getting ready to gather with your loved ones (or maybe you already are!) looking forward to sharing meaningful moments together.

For many of us, with all that's happening in our world, communities, neighborhoods, and families, it can feel challenging to be fully present.

There's a lot of social pressure to be happy during the Holidays.

It can also be quite busy!

The holiday season include a lot of pouring your time, energy, and attention out towards others and making sure their cup is full.

As a nurturer who cares, you're probably working hard to make every detail right while honoring other people's preferences.

I'd bet that many of you reading this right now can list the likes and dislikes your loved ones and how you've already planned various options to meet their needs (each year I'm reminded of the nuances of Team dressing vs. Team stuffing, it's a thing!).

Giving to others can feel so good.

And, in the process of prioritizing others, it's easy to neglect what you need and want.

Filling up your own cup is necessary. When you nourish yourself first, you'll have more energy and enthusiasm to share with others.

Read on if you want a different approach to the holidays this year.

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5 ways to fill your cup by engaging your senses

Take a look and see what inspires you! No need to make it a checklist - trust the ones that you're drawn to and leave the rest.

1) Engage your sense of sight by reading a poem.

"You have traveled too fast over false ground;

Now your soul has come, to take you back.

Take refuge in your senses, open up

To all the small miracles you rushed through.

Become inclined to watch the way of rain

When it falls slow and free.​

Imitate the habit of twilight,

Taking time to open the well of color

That fostered the brightness of the day.

Draw alongside the silence of stone

Until its calmness can claim you.

Be excessively gentle with yourself."

John O'Donohue, excerpt from the blessing For One Who is Exhausted

2) Engage your sense of touch with a nature walk.

Yesterday, on my usual walking route around the neighborhood, I got a spark of inspiration to collect leaves of different colors and arrange them in a wreath on the grass.

Touching the different shapes and textures and tapping into my creativity felt so good.

A picture of the wreath is at the bottom of this page.

What textures do you want to explore?

3) Engage your sense of taste with a warm beverage you love.

When's the last time you sat and slowly savored your favorite warm beverage without doing lots of other things at the same time?

Carve out 10 minutes of uninterrupted time and allow yourself to put all of your attention on what you're drinking.

What does the steam feel like on your face?

The first sip?

Savor it... sloooooowly.

4) Engage your sense of hearing by listening to a beautiful meditation.

A favorite of mine is a meditation by Sarah Blondin, called "Your seed of softness." It's from her book Heart Minded.

I love this meditation because it helps you connect back to the softness in your heart. A few months ago, I shared this in my women's circle, and everyone enjoyed how they felt after listening to it.

5) Engage your sense of smell with a scent you love.

I just bought a longleaf pine candle from a local soy candlemaker here in Athens. Even though I haven't lit it yet, just taking the lid off and smelling the scent gives me a burst of joy and energy.

Is there a candle, lotion, or food that you love to smell?

Carve out a couple of minutes in your day so you can really enjoy it.

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If you've made it this far in this long email (thank you!) - take a deep breath in and out.

Remember, filling up your own cup is not only essential for your well-being but also for the well-being of those around you.

Ask yourself if anything on the above list sparks something for you and know that it's here when you're ready.

If you'd like guidance on this journey toward nurturing yourself while nurturing others, I'd love to support you. Reply to this email to learn more about how we can work together.

I want you to know how grateful I am that you're part of my community.

We get so many emails (especially this time of year, OMG!) and I don't take it lightly that you've chosen to hear from me.

I'm wishing you and your loved ones a beautiful, nourishing holiday together.

With love,

Stacy

PS. If you'd like to hear Native American and Wampanoag peoples talk about Thanksgiving and the 1621 Harvest Feast in their own words, watch this video (In Our Words: An Indigenous Story of Thanksgiving). It includes ways to acknowledge and learn about Native American heritage during Thanksgiving.