Holidays are not for filling carts, but for filling hearts.  – N. Anderson

Slow Down

I got hit with Covid for the first time this month, and I have to say—it was rough. It’s been years since I’ve been stuck in bed without the energy to do anything. That’s always my marker: when I really know I’m sick.

Some people say getting sick is life’s way of forcing us to slow down, to make space for grace and focus on the things that matter. Given the pace I’d been running lately, I think, for me, that turned out to be true.

Every year, I commit to being that person: the one with presents bought, wrapped, and ready to go long before Christmas Eve. And every year, I still find myself scrambling—grabbing last-minute stocking stuffers and staring down a pile of gifts waiting to be wrapped.

It’s not until the final hour that I take a deep breath and tell myself, “Slow down. Whatever didn’t get done—it’s going to be fine.”

But why does it always take me so long to get to that point? Why, after all these years, do I keep falling into the “perfect Christmas” trap?

Because I’m human. Because we’re all human.

When Covid hit, I didn’t have a choice—I was forced to stop. Forced to do absolutely nothing. And for someone like me, that’s almost more painful than the body aches. Okay… maybe not, but you get my drift.

Doing nothing is hard.

We’re so conditioned to go, go, go. And during the holidays, we’re expected to hit turbo speed. But so often, that “go mode” pushes aside what matters most:

• Time with family.
• Choosing a cozy movie night over yet another holiday party.
• Volunteering for a cause instead of cramming in one more dinner.

It’s not that time with friends isn’t important—of course it is. But not everything needs to happen before December 25th. The holidays can feel like an excuse to pack in as much as possible. Sometimes, it’s worth asking, “What can wait? And what actually fills my heart?”

While I was stuck in bed, this phrase kept playing on repeat in my head:

“Fill hearts, not carts.”

And suddenly, it hit me.

I spend so much time—so much energy—trying to fill my cart. Ticking off to-do lists. Hunting for the perfect gifts. Chasing some version of holiday perfection that doesn’t actually exist.

Reprioritizing

But what if I focused more on filling my heart? What if I spent this season finding meaningful ways to fill the hearts of others, too?

Because the funny thing about filling yourself up—truly filling yourself up—is that it’s contagious.

So, if you feel yourself getting swept up in the holiday chaos, I encourage you:

Take a breath. Take a break.

And ask yourself: What could I be doing right now that would fill hearts?

You might just surprise yourself. And you might make a bigger difference than you realize.

Here’s to filling hearts with love this holiday season!

Love,

Nicki