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Well, did you survive?!
Elizabeth Fedrick
November 29, 2024
One holiday down…
How did you (and your relationships) do?!
This weekend is a whirlwind of family gatherings, traditions, and celebrations that often evoke a mix of joy, fun, stress, chaos, and everything in between. And now that we’ve officially made it through one of the biggest days for that, it’s the perfect moment to pause and reflect.
Whether you’re in a partnership or navigated through it all solo, the day likely brought its own unique challenges and lessons…
For Couples:
The holidays can be a litmus test for relationships, revealing strengths and vulnerabilities in the face of busy schedules, family dynamics, and financial pressures.
How Did Your Relationship Fare?
Were you able to communicate your needs and boundaries effectively?
Did you support one another during moments of stress?
Were there opportunities to reconnect, or did tension take center stage?
Post-Holiday Tips for Couples:
Debrief Together: Talk openly about what went well and what didn’t. Use this as an opportunity to strengthen your bond.
Focus on Recovery: The holidays can be exhausting. Take time to reconnect in low-pressure ways, like a date night or a cozy evening at home.
Celebrate Your Wins: Whether it was navigating family dynamics together or making it through the day without conflict, acknowledge the ways you did well as a couple.
For Singles:
The holidays can stir up a range of emotions for singles, from empowerment and joy in independence to loneliness or frustration with societal expectations.
How Did You Navigate the Season?
Did you set boundaries and protect your energy?
Were you able to find meaningful ways to connect with loved ones and/or choose to just take time to relax?
Did you allow yourself to enjoy the holiday or did you mostly stay focused on feeling lonely or the desire for a relationship?
Post-Holiday Tips for Singles:
Celebrate Your Strength: Whether you hosted solo, braved family events, or just got through the day, give yourself credit for whatever choice you made.
Focus on Replenishment: Shift your energy back to your personal goals, self-care, and the things that bring you joy.
Reframe the Experience: If the day was far from perfect, that’s okay. Use the lessons learned to make future choices that are more aligned with your needs.
Whether you faced the holiday as part of a couple or solo, take a moment to reflect on how it went, including successes, as well as areas of frustration, conflict, or loneliness.
The thing about holidays is while they often bring with them a whole lot of highs and lows… the holidays, in and of themselves, are not the issue, but rather they generally just highlight the truth about our relationship beliefs, behaviors, and patterns…
If you are recognizing that the exact same relationship cycles keep repeating, regardless of what day it is… this is your gentle nudge that it might be time to do something about it.
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