The Gift of Presence: Slowing Down in a Season of Doing

It’s December, I can’t help but reflect on how much the holidays have changed over the years.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year. My parents both came from large families, so the holidays were filled with aunts, uncles, cousins — SO MUCH FAMILY  — all packed into one house well into the night or the early morning hours. The air buzzed with laughter and the food seemed endless.

I can still picture it: sitting on the floor around the coffee table in the family room, eating, laughing, and talking about complete nonsense — the kind of silly conversations that made your stomach hurt from too many belly laughs. I can still hear my aunts urging me to eat more (it’s a Filipino thing, after all), my dad’s voice mingling with the sound of mahjong tiles clicking, and my mom telling stories about my brother and me, her laughter wrapping around the room like music.

I miss my parents.....

When Togetherness Changes

Somewhere along the way, things started to shift. Maybe it was after COVID, maybe it’s just the rhythm of life — people growing older, moving away, or loved ones passing on. What once felt effortless now takes a little more intention to make happen outside of the ‘typical’ holiday. It seems like we all slipped into our own little bubbles and never fully came back out. I know I’m not the only one who feels this — that quiet sadness when you realize the holidays aren’t quite what they used to be.

There’s a loneliness that can creep in during this season, especially for those of us who remember what it used to feel like to have a house full of family, noise, and laughter.

Finding Healing in the Quiet

These days, I use my emotional healing tools more than ever around the holidays. I’ve learned to honor the sadness when it comes up — to let it move through instead of pushing it down. Healing doesn’t mean ignoring the ache; it means giving it space to breathe and transform.



When I feel those waves of grief or longing, I pause and reach out — to a friend, a loved one, or my community. Because what I’ve realized is that connection still exists, it just looks a little different now. It’s in the text from a friend checking in or the small circle that shows up for coffee or a shared meal

It might not be the big, bustling family gatherings of the past, but there’s still warmth to be found — if we open our hearts to it.

Choosing Presence Over Perfection

This season, I’m focusing on the gift of presence — slowing down, breathing deeply, and being grateful for the people I do have around me. Because even when things don’t look the same, love is still here. Connection is still here.

If this season feels heavy for you too, please know you’re not alone. Reach out — for help, for healing, for company. Sometimes just sharing what you’re feeling can be the start of releasing what’s been weighing on your heart. And if you’re ready to find a little more peace, balance, and lightness this season, I invite you to connect with me for an emotional healing session. Together, we can create space for more calm, gratitude, and joy — even in the midst of change.

Let’s Reflect Together

What’s one memory from the holidays that still makes you smile? Or, what’s one small way you plan to create connection this season?
Share in the comments below — your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.