December is Enough

gratitude isn't just for November

I’ve had a hard time with this month’s post. A lot of words have bubbled up for me when thinking about the month ahead. Magical, exhausting, traditions, marathon. The idea of this post every month is to ground ourselves with intention for the month ahead. I don’t want to write an entire post about how exhausted I already am and will be come January 1st. So instead I asked what I want to embody this month. Hope you enjoy!

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In this season of giving, what is nature giving and what can I learn from this? We’ve collected white pine freshly fallen from the trees to infuse in a winter soap. We crafted stars and wreaths with grapevines to decorate our home. We’ve breathed in cold air, allowing it to flow like energy through our lungs. But most of what nature gives this time of year is unseen. It’s the cold stratification of tulips, daffodils and garlic. It’s the roots of our fruit trees growing wider and deeper. it’s the leaves slowly breaking down to feed the soil and shelter the insects that keep our ecosystem thriving.

The gifts of nature are not typically the things we write down on a list for Santa or a gratitude journal. They’re not typically things we notice. We take them for granted, but without them our world would start to unravel.

And so, this December, maybe the magic is in noticing these exchanges. In allowing them to be enough.

Enoughness

“Recognizing “enoughness” is a radical act in an economy that is always urging us to consume more.” - The Serviceberry, Robin Wall Kimmerer

The power of marketing is that it has convinced a whole society of fairly well educated folks that they can buy their way out of problems. My awakening to this idea started in college. I was an active teenager and played a lot of sports. I was already in love with food and would devour the topic from a health and sports nutrition perspective. I went off to college to study dietetics and by year two of my program realized what a crock of shit it is. Like most trades, it is what you make it, and at the time I didn’t realize that I could practice it differently once I completed my education. The program, which is pretty universal since it mirrors the common core philosophy with curriculum based on a standardized exam, was treatment focused. To me, nutrition was (is) about vitality. Prevention, yes, but also a scale that could be balanced at every meal. It’s a scale that you can use to gauge your health and general wellness (how tired are you, where are you at in your cycle, what are your cravings telling you, etc.) multiple times a day and feed your mind and your body accordingly. I talked about embodiment a few posts ago, and I think food is a great way to bridge the mind and body. I digress…

Here I was thinking I’d learn about how food is processed by our bodies and the effects it may have when in reality I spent a lot more time focused on quick fixes. There are no quick fixes in nutrition or life in general.

Greenwashing tells us we can buy our way to a clean and vibrant planet. Big pharma tells us we can live in gluttony and buy our way to a long life. Capitalism tells us happiness is one materialistic purchase away. They don’t tell you that there’s always consequences. They undermine the wisdom and capability we possess.

Creating a culture of enoughness cultivates a new kind of abundance. I am not immune to stress shopping or the dopamine hit of buying myself a present on a bad day because “I deserve it”. But because I’m aware of this and know that the fix is temporary, with potentially longterm consequences (going into debt, cycle of financial stress, climate stress, lack of fair trade/harmful working conditions, etc.), I have a practice of listing the good that’s around me.

the embed feature isn’t working, so here’s a screenshot of this note that exactly captures this month’s message

This may sound like a gratitude process. Because it is. Gratitude is just one step. Honoring the magic of the mundane, whether it be themed music while you cook dinner (à la Veronica Mars), wearing a fun hat, making up ridiculous stories or plating your dinner like you’re a chef at a fine dining restaurant, brings levity to your day. It also creates an awareness of the beauty of all that is around you. When you start to notice how these simple things bring cheer to your life you notice the fullness in your cup. And it’s enough.

Embodying Enoughness

You’re probably thinking, “that’s great but how does one actually live this?”. I’ve been there. I actually stopped reading self-help or wellness books because it would make me so frustrated that these authors unlocked the key to the best life ever but left you envious instead of equipped to follow in their footsteps. Here’s a simple list of ways you can embody enoughness this month (and beyond). Many of these things have the potential to become habit with a little effort upfront (remember, no quick fixes). And yes, they’re simple. If you haven’t realized it yet, that’s kind of the point. We don’t need to lead the most instagram worthy lives or have a mountain of packages delivered to our doors every day to be content and to thrive. I’d love to hear what you would add:

• Notice the Unseen Gifts
  Journal about small, unnoticed ways you’re growing or contributing to the world around you. I have a tab in my notes app to record these small gifts because I inevitably think of it when I’m not in a place to journal.

• Pause and Breathe
  Step outside, breathe in the crisp air, and let it fill you with a sense of presence. Even a few moments spent in nature can remind you that just being is enough. Mornings getting my kids to daycare are absolutely soul crushing. It’s harder than childbirth and pregnancy and I will stand by that. One thing I do is take one minute to look at the stars and the moon or walk through the garden, depending on the season. I’m already late, so what’s one more minute?

• Practice Gratitude
  Make a habit of writing down one “invisible” thing you’re grateful for each day—like the way fallen leaves nourish the earth or the warmth of a favorite sweater. Today I wrote: the nitrogen in snow, returning to the garden.

• Rest Without Guilt
  Look to nature for permission: the trees aren’t blooming now, and that’s okay. Honor your need to slow down and recharge. Rest is another radical act in this economy of overconsumption. My husband recently told me to spend nap time doing what I can’t do when they’re awake. More often than not, that means I rest now instead of hustling around to do an insane amount during such a short time.

• Create Something with Your Hands
  Craft a wreath from grapevines, knit a scarf, or bake a loaf of bread. These acts of creation remind us that what we already have within us is enough to make something beautiful. I find that working with my hands help me connect with others as well. I’m obsessed with the idea of mythic time right now because every time I’m doing one of these crafts or working in the kitchen I have flashes of my ancestors or long ago memories.

• Share Abundance
  If you have extras—food, supplies, or time—share them with someone who could use them. Enoughness grows when it’s shared. We are digging through our archives to find gifts for loved ones this year. I keep finding the perfect gift and realizing that someone I love will love this item more than I have. There’s something extremely satisfying in that.

• Be Present
  Whether wrapping gifts, spending time with loved ones, or savoring a quiet moment, remind yourself: right now, you are enough. I’ve been repeating this mantra as a form of grounding lately: You are here. You are enough.

Gifts that promote a circular economy

And since it’s December and the season of giving, I wanted to share some gift ideas that would align with cultivating enoughness. It feels like the ultimate act of enoughness is to not give or receive gifts this year, but I firmly believe that the gift economy can be very fulfilling and can foster a lot of love between the giver and receiver if done thoughtfully.

Creating a culture of enoughness promotes a circular economy. The deep sense of gratitude we cultivate in the everyday items we interact with and consume builds reverence for the world around us. We end up recycling (not in the greenwashed way) resources. Abundance is transformed from a quantitative state measured by dollars and stuff to a state of mind. Not to turn this into a book review for The Serviceberry because I started this post before I even cracked the spine on that book, but it aligns too perfectly not to share:

“The juice that bursts from these berries was rain just last week and is already on its way back to the clouds.” - The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Here’s a list of gifts that promote a circular economy. They truly keep giving:

• Sourdough starter

• Canning supplies

• Seeds

• A family recipe & ingredients to make it

• Compost (I know it’s weird, but it’s a great way to jumpstart a new pile!)

• A workshop or time spent learning a skill

• A book

• Supplies for a hobby or craft

What would you add?