let people have their joy

cue the holiday music

#WednesdayWisdom

“Life is short and it’s up to you to make it sweet.” ~ Sadie Delaney

---

Morning Musings

Last week at a co-working session with the crew at Women Unite!, we were talking about our binge-watching Hallmark holiday movies (for the record: my all-time favorite holiday movie is A Diva’s Christmas Carol starring Vanessa Williams and the Kelly Rowland Merry Liddle Christmas triology is a close second). Yes, it was only Nov. 15, but who cares? After all, I’d just gone to a Christmas tree lighting on Nov. 10.

Once upon a time, I used to be a Grinch about celebrating holidays in the proper order: Halloween, Thanksgiving and THEN Christmas. I even wrote a column about it for my hometown newspaper back when I was a baby reporter. And then the pandemic hit … 2020 was a dark year for many of us for many reasons. Suddenly, the folks who decide to deck their halls before the turkey is carved seemed to be on to something. (And let’s not even get into the problematic history of Thanksgiving … actually, let’s get into it).

My point it, life is short. Life is too short to care about when people hang their mistletoe or start blasting Mariah Carey. I mean, Hallmark even has fall holiday movies now (they’re still cheesy af, but alas I am basic and cannot resist). Let people have their joy. Just like this Instagram post:

Last year, we put up our Christmas tree mid-November because we were going out of town right after Thanksgiving and I wanted to come home to holiday spirit. Honestly, having the tree up longer brought me a lot of joy and something to look forward to on those early dark fall evenings. And these days, we can all use as much joy as we can get.

So while I’ll try my hardest to have my first PSL after Labor Day and I won’t be putting up Christmas decorations before Halloween, I’m not judging those who do. You do you, boo. Do what makes your heart happy this holiday season. You deserve.

Bonus question: What’s your favorite holiday movie and/or song? Sound off in the comments!

---

ICYMI

As a former infertility patient (and soon-to-be yoga for fertility instructor, more on that later!), I was excited to interview Dr. Alice Domar about that relationship between infertility and stress. Check out her tips for incorporating mindfulness strategies into fertility treatments in my latest for Fortune Well.

---

Join Me and YR Media

I’m so excited to join my YR Media fam for their first-ever in-person event at their new Midwest hub on Tuesday, Nov. 28! We’ll discuss the evolution of journalism, the challenges faced by the industry and the vital role that diversity plays in shaping the narratives of tomorrow. You can RSVP to attend in person here or register for the livestream below.

---

Breakthrough Fear to Freedom

My interview with life coach Jackie Kannier goes live next week, but you can sign up now for her FREE online interview series, Breakthrough Fear to Freedom. In this series, I and other top experts share practical ways we’ve overcome fear to create lives we love and help you do the same. Click below to get into all the goodness.

---

Links I Love

• André 3000 on His New Album and Life After Outkast: The GQ Video Cover Story: I mean, first of all, it’s André 3000. But the journalist in me loves the multimedia storytelling.

• How to Stop Regressing When You Go Home for the Holidays: ‘Tis the season, y’all.

• Breakup Letter to My Inner Critic and Journaling Prompts to Check In With Self: If you’ve read Stop Waiting for Perfect or you’ve attended one of my recent workshops, then you’re familiar with my prompt for writing a breakup letter to your inner critic. I love hearing the names people come up with for their inner critic and I’m always honored when people decide to share their letters, like

  Ashleigh Vaughn
  of
  here comes the sun
  .

---

Now Hiring

1. Manager, Corporate Relations and Strategic Partnerships for The New York Public Library

2. Associate Reporter for NBCU Academy

3. Marketing Manager for The Chicago Cultural Alliance

4. Girls Opportunity Alliance U.S. Program Associate for the Obama Foundation

5. Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the East Bay Community Foundation

6. Associate Fashion Editor for Marie Claire

7. Service Journalism Editor for The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com

8. Digital Copywriter for ILIA Beauty

---

Stop Waiting for Perfect is Out Now!

---

Thank You

A special thank-you to April, Cait, Amanda, Harleen, Megan, Najja, Jessica, Priti, Cat, Jenna, Mallory, Rachel, Angel, Sarah, Camesha, Vix, Anna, Stephanie, Dominique, Tiffany, Emily, Mabinty, Lindsey, Casey, Lynnae, Dani, Amanda, Raina and Abigail for becoming paid subscribers and helping to fuel this newsletter. I truly appreciate your support!

---