Hello Neighbors!
November has a way of asking us to slow down. Maybe it’s the earlier sunsets, the familiar recipes coming back out, or the anticipation of gathering around a table with people we love. Whatever it is, this time of year seems to pull us toward familiar things and remind us to appreciate them.
Having Gratitude
We talk a lot about gratitude in November. We give thanks for our families, our friends, our careers and the people who have supported us along the way. And we should.
But this year, I think we should add someone else to that list. Ourselves.
When was the last time you thanked yourself? For getting through the difficult days. For showing up when you were exhausted. For taking care of everyone else.
For making the hard decision, trying something new, setting a boundary, starting over—or when it would have been easier to give up.
Self-care can be a thank-you to yourself.
And it doesn’t always have to mean a full day at the spa—although you know I’ll never discourage that, especially at Cerulean Spa. It can be a long bath, or taking care of your skin before bed instead of falling asleep with your makeup on. Booking the massage you’ve been putting off, or saying no to something because what you really need is rest.
Sometimes luxury is simply giving yourself permission to stop.
Tradition
There is something else I love about November: tradition.
As life gets busier and everything around us seems to change faster, traditions become little anchors. The recipes that only appear once a year. The same dishes on the same table. The stories everyone has heard a hundred times but somehow still get told, and never get old. Tradition doesn’t have to be elaborate to matter. It just has to mean something.
We spend so much of the year moving forward—planning the next thing, chasing the next goal and taking care of what needs to be done.(I am very guilty of all these things) But, November gives us an opportunity to look around at what is already here.
So this month, be thankful for the people you love. Hold onto the traditions that make you feel at home. And somewhere in all of that gratitude, don’t forget yourself.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of my loyal readers.
Be well, spa often, wear your sunscreen.
Tracy XO
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