Hello, friends…and a warm welcome to all the new people here today. It’s Catherine Greer from Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix writing to you from…my side of the bed at 2:53 in the morning. Gahhhhh! Growing older and getting sleepless.

If you haven’t been asked lately, how are you? Really — how’s your world at the moment? Big plans, secret worries, feeling pretty okay, only so-so?

Here’s what I’ve been thinking this week: the holidays are coming, and we all know the truth: women make the magic.

We make it. There is never a stocking not filled by a woman (I’m pretty sure) and usually the ones with our name on it are the bedraggled slim ones, am I right? We plan the food, decide when it’s time to bring out the decorations and start the shopping, we think about the people who may need us (or need a little extra cheer).

We are women and we bring the joy.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get so busy bringing and joy-ing and starting that I forget this basic truth: I need to take care of myself while I make the holidays for everyone else. I need to make sure I’m:

• drinking enough water

• getting outside for lots of walks (I walk the dog every day, but I also need to walk MYSELF sometimes…move and feel better, move and think, move and relax)

• sleeping (hah! my midlife brain is laughing at myself right now but…yes, I need more…please send help!)

I also need to remember an important truth.

We’re here now. We have this time to live our lives and enjoy whatever we can. Sounds completely basic, I know, but sometimes I need to remind myself to be grateful for every new morning. They keep coming like gifts.

I’ve decided to have more FUN this holiday season, so I’ve been whispering this to myself. Maybe it will also help you.

When I clean all those corners before we start to decorate the house: this is the fun part!

When I’m tripping over unwrapped gifts on the floor on my closet: this is the fun part!

When I’m tired from stupid hormones and not sleeping, and wake up grumpy but my family is there to love and the dog is forever faithful, waiting for me to notice her, and I have a home to live in and grass to cut and a dishwasher to unload and floors to sweep and work to do: this is the fun part!

We’re alive. We’re here. We’re breathing. It’s another new day, another one!, and there will probably be another one tomorrow.

Just think: this is the FUN part.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone, and thanks for being here with me.

Love, Catherine x

PS. FUN STUFF! Gorgeous red coats & poems & books & more…

• If you want to shop: this coat in red if it’s cold where you are or how about this initial necklace?

• If you want to read a beautiful poem: “The Best Time Of The Day” by American poet, Raymond Carver.

• If you want to learn how to tie a Tiffany bow.

• And if you want to get all your girlfriend & sister gifts in one fell swoop, I would be so honoured if you’d consider my books. (If you’re posting gifts in the mail, they send as a letter, which means they’re easy to mail.)

  America – Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix

  Canada – Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix

  Australia – Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix or shop local here.

  United Kingdom – Small Steps Are Perfect and The 10 Minute Fix