Some holidays don’t feel festive. They feel quiet in a way that echoes.

If this is your first holiday alone, your kids are somewhere else, you’ve moved, divorced, or lost someone, the pressure to “make it special” can feel like way too much. Especially when your energy is already thin.

In this episode, I talk about that loneliness without dressing it up—and about what actually helps. Including a cookie-decorating plan that went off the rails fast and reminded me (again) that chasing the picture of a perfect holiday usually costs more than it gives back.

We talk about choosing ease over performance. Making small, specific plans instead of vague ones that fall apart. Naming loneliness so it doesn’t run the whole week. And creating simple rituals that fit this version of your life—not the one you’re supposed to be in.

That might look like one shared meal, a short call, a walk with a neighbor, lighting a candle for someone you miss, or letting go of traditions that require more energy than you have.

This isn’t about fixing the holiday. It’s about getting through it with a little more steadiness, honesty, and care.

If this episode feels like something you needed, pass it along. And if you have a low-effort tradition that actually brings you comfort, I’d love to hear it.