Festivity is in the air! Yes, December is here! Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa take place this month, as well as holidays that include Bodhi, Las Posadas, and Omisoka. Buddhists rejoice in Bodhi, the Day of Awakening, when Siddhartha Gautama commonly known as Buddha attained enlightenment. It is a prayerful meditative day in which trees are decorated with lights and meals of rice and milk are shared. Commemorating Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter in Bethlehem, Hispanic Christians reenact this journey over nine days during Las Posadas. They also celebrate by gathering for parties, singing, and making and eating tamales. Yum! Omisoka is the Japanese word for New Year’s Eve and on this day families cleanse and purify their homes to usher in the year ahead. Enjoying time in each other’s company, an hour before midnight, they eat bowls of toshikoshi soba together. While in our part of the world, winter officially arrives in December accompanied by cold weather, gatherings of families and friends bring a special warmth to this spirited season. Ah! The next thirty days will find me taking part in cheerful observances as well as engaged in my next self-care activity. Focusing on a single moment in time, this one will be perfect for relaxing as December is such a busy month. But first, let me tell you about November’s hands-on experience!
From my journal: November 4, 2025, Newbury Park, California
“…surprised that I am hesitant… all my supplies out, had to tell myself to just play!”
This past month’s self-care choice was the unstructured, free for all, sensory activity that had me excited and reminiscing about my elementary school days. While I fondly remember finger painting as a kid, I was taken a bit back when I sat down to do it the first few times. Why? Good question! It may have been that I had yet to switch off my adult brain. The one that focuses on method, process, and results. But, after awhile of dipping my fingers into the pools of primary colored puddles and swirling the paint around on shiny paper, I was a kid all over again! What a great place to be! In the present moment, with no worries, with no expectations. How very freeing!
So enjoyable, I experimented with watercolors, acrylics, and then with oils! I splashed, swiped, and streaked color drenched pigments here, there, and everywhere. Like anything fun, one thing led to another, and I ended up purchasing a copy of Finger Painting Weekend Workshop by Iris Scott, a few canvases, and a set of Holbein Oils. Scott teaches courses in NYC and her book offers easy to follow instructions using simple techniques. And while her way of painting is meant to be a form of play therapy, I have to say the results are fabulous and oh so satisfying! I am so happy I picked this self-care activity as it offers a quick fun way to relax and play, and if I want to create a piece of mistake-free art I can give myself more time and follow along with Scott, the ArtSherpa, Elakkis, or other YouTubers as they share their take on this adult child’s play!
Now for December’s self-care pick. Anyone who reads my blog, knows writing is my passion. I am in my happy place anytime I am putting my pen to paper or my fingers to a keyboard. It doesn’t matter if I am composing a letter, a thank you note, or one of my blog posts…it’s the highlight of my daily routine. While I do pen poems, I don’t write them frequently. Yes, I create an annual holiday poem, but unless I need a poem for a card I’m making, prose is my go-to. So, I thought I’d change that and have decided everyday this month I’ll write a haiku.
A Japanese poem with just three lines and 17 syllables, haikus are written to express just one moment in time. Often, they are nature themed, about animals, seasons, or natural happenings, but regardless of the subject, they all follow the same 5, 7, 5 pattern. Five syllables in line one, seven in line two, and five in line three. Although haikus are short, they can convey big emotions. Take the most famous haiku for instance, simple yet profound.
“An Old Pond”
by Matsuo Basho
An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
Splash! Silence again.
Why choose this activity my self-care experience? Let’s see, where do I begin? Writing haikus helps a person focus on sensory details, being in the moment, and emotional expression. The simple format makes writing a poem doable. It doesn’t require rhyming or in-depth details. By selecting just 17 syllables, the creator is required to slow down, and pay attention to a single image, feeling or sound they want to convey. It makes the process meditative, which can offer a sense of peace, calm, and even humor.
Other positives include helping the writer articulate a feeling in a safe space. I like how reading and writing poetry, especially about nature, gives me a better appreciation for the wonder that is all around me. Besides, doing anything creative can lead to feeling more centered, so I am all for it!
As in previous months, I will record my self-care discoveries and will share them with you. Amid all the hustle and bustle of December, I am looking forward to setting aside a little time each day to capture one single moment and commit it to paper. In this way I am hoping…a haiku a day will keep the stress away! Yay!
A Journal Journey 