04 Dec How Can You Create Non Food Traditions

There are so many of our Holiday traditions that evolve around food!

One of my nutrition clients was mentioning this the other day. She was recognizing how many of her families traditions were linked with going to a certain place to eat. While this was neither a matter of being good or bad, it was giving her perspective around her personal values and goals as she is now an adult, and how these traditions she had when she was younger were making her feel ultimately.

While there is often food involved, it is not really the food that creates the experience, it is the memories around the moment, the feelings you have and the people you are sharing this with. Sometimes it can be a matter of food being the commonality among a group of people that are very different in other areas and don’t feel like they have a lot in common. Food can be a form of showing love. But are there OTHER ways you can also show someone you care about them?
 

Traditions are wonderful, but it is also ok that they evolve as you are evolving as a person and your circumstances. 

How can you create new traditions that are bringing about the same intentions and emotions and may not be JUST about the food you are having. 

Are the donuts and coffee going to really give you the butterflies and feelings they once did when you were a kid? Or was that a special moment when you were younger that has different emotion now and is often coupled with an energy crash and continued less supportive food choices?

If these traditions are supporting how you want to feel and who you want to be, AMAZING. Keep doing that. But if your traditions are sucking the life out of you, leaving you exhausted, depleted and bloated all at the same time. Is this how you want to continue to live?

My 35th birthday is actually today. I have always struggled having a December birthday (anyone else?) lol. There are SO many other Holiday events going on and it’s so cold that doing a party outside is not enjoyable. I really thought about what would be most celebratory and truly life GIVING this year.

If you love all of the traditions, cake, cocktails and big parties, again – you do you – that’s amazing. But just be true to yourself.

I decided this year, going out to fancy dinners, hangovers and pressure were not it.
I almost flew to a warm place for the weekend! 

But I landed on … a day pass at the yoga retreat center, Kripalu in the Berkshire Mountains.
My mom and I are staying over night and enjoying this life giving experience with nourishing food, movement and nature.

I love to be able to leave experiences, restored, up leveled and ready to continue to show up in the best way I can. Do I still enjoy the food and cocktails of events and celebrations, of course. But for me, this did not align with how I wanted to feel ultimately. 

My hope is that this inspires you to reflect on what you really desire out of experiences in your life. Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you just doing things out of obligation, not to disappoint someone or ruffle feathers. 

When you come from a place of respect for yourself and communicate this to others in a meaningful, respectful way, they are more likely to hear you and be open to this. And if they aren’t yet, that’s ok too. Be true to yourself, you are the only one responsible for your happiness.