A Poem for You, in This Season of So Much
Written by Annie Tam
This time of year
has a way of piling things up—
calendars, expectations,
dishes, emotions,
and that one ornament
that somehow tangles itself
no matter how carefully you put it away.
So here’s a gentle reminder
just for you:
The holidays are not a test
you can pass or fail.
There is no rubric for
“perfect joy,”
and you don’t get extra credit
for attending every event
you secretly hoped would be canceled.
You’re allowed to buy the store-bought cookies.
You’re allowed to step outside
for a breath of winter air
when the chatter gets loud.
You’re allowed to feel tender,
or tired,
or quietly proud of yourself
for making it through a moment
you would've sworn you didn't have patience for.
And if your family gathering
starts feeling like a reality show
you never auditioned for,
remember:
you can take a break,
a walk,
or a very long trip to the “forgotten” room
where the wrapping paper and nameless junk lives.
This season,
look for the pockets of wonder
that appear when you slow down—
the glow of a candle,
the softness of a blanket,
a song you haven’t heard in years,
the rare silence
that lets you notice your own heartbeat.
These small things count.
They always have.
So here is your holiday homework,
and it comes with no deadline,
no grading,
and no gold stars required:
⭐ Rest when you can.
⭐ Laugh when something is truly funny, cry whenever you need to release.
⭐ Say “no” without apologizing.
⭐ Allow joy in whatever size it arrives.
⭐ Let yourself be present for even one tiny moment that feels real.
You are doing enough.
You are enough.
And you deserve a season
with room to breathe,
to feel,
to heal,
and to simply be.
Happy Holidays—
may peace find you gently this year.
