Stuffing, stuffing, stuffing.

Ah, the holidays are here (in my house, they arrived Sept 1 🎄 🎃 ).

The holidays are still weird without my mom and since my in-laws have passed.

My siblings live all over the country now and we try and see each other at least once during the season and celebrate the many, many smatterings of birthdays that fall during this time.

As our families have grown and spread out, it's become increasingly harder to maintain the traditions.

But still, we try and stuff it all in. Stay connected and keep growing with each other.

My family always makes me laugh. They are funny, lively, sarcastic, and the level of insults hurled at each other are gloriously unmatched.

My husband would always roll his eyes when my brother would call me because he knew it would be about 20 minutes of insults exchanged, dumb laughter, and about 40 seconds of information.

There's something about your family of origin - whether the relationships are or were healthy or not.

Your family of origin are always a reminder of who you were. How far you've come. And maybe how far you still need to go.

You might be gearing up for a tense Thanksgiving or eagerly awaiting the yelling at the TV for the football game.

Or trying to pick out the most stretchy sweatpants to avoid having your waist's circulation cut off after your third helping of mashed potatoes and gravy.

INVITATION: However you celebrate, I hope that you stand firm in your values today. I hope you take deep breaths and remember your source of energy and joy. Remember you are whole just as you are - and drink in the memories you will make today. And hug your loved ones a little tighter. And say thank you for the lessons you're learning in love, gratitude, and connection today. And do your best to say no thanks to what doesn't serve you.

I recorded a raw solocast for today. It took me a minute to press record - I didn't want to show up in this state - but I did anyway.

EP164: Thanks and No Thanks: A Solocast

xo and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Allison

P.S. Seriously, I am so grateful for you reading this week in and week out. I cherish every email you send back with your own experience, kind words, and commentary. THANK YOU!

P.P.S. Clearing challenge begins Dec. 1. Speaking of saying NO THANKS, let's help you declutter what no longer serves you as a pre-new year gift to you. Join me here. It's free.

P.P.P.S. OMG. If you care AT ALL about self-awareness, healing, and something thought-provoking, watch this immediately. It's emotionally resonant and will move you!

P.P.P.P.S. I'm so late on this, but with all of my adventures, I finally got to watch this movie. It was so inspiring to me.

P.P.P.P.P.S. Would you want to go to THIS PARADISE? Well, guess what? I'm planning on creating a bespoke curated experience for a small group of people in 2023. Want in? HMU.