Christmas! Jingling bells and red bows, sparkling lights, tinsel and promises. Everywhere there are reminders - Christmas trees in windows, lights in gardens trailing EVERYWHERE. Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, the radio, television, emails and more. We are cajoled and teased, pushed and shoved into thinking, feeling, well... Christmassy!!

Well, what if we don't feel Christmassy? What if there's troubles around us, problems that can't be solved easily, pressures that are crushing us. sadness that is engulfing us...?

Every year at this time it's the usual good cheer and retail push to buy ourselves a place in heaven by spending and wrapping and giving.

Well - don't panic! Deep breathes. It's okay to not "do" Christmas. It's okay to just gently spoil YOU. Perhaps it's just you and your dog this year? Perhaps it's just you? Perhaps you don't want to see friends and family this year?

Let us be clear - we LOVE Christmas. We adore the fanfare and the pageantry, the bells and whistles, the tinsel and glitter - the more the better we say! Decorate, play carols, bake good food, share, love, enjoy! BUT... if you ARE alone, or just not in the mood this year - please don't despair. The wonderful thing is that all around you, life has finally wound down in the business world - the offices are closed, the emails stop, the phone is quiet. Now is the time for YOU to wind down also - to be gentle with yourself, pamper YOU, collect and cook something yummy, decorate simply - a bowl of red apples with a branch of greenery tied with red bows is enough. Light candles, soak in a deep bath sprinkled with lavender and epsom salts, play music. It's okay to cry if memories are aroused. Sleep in, sleep all day! Go for walks, bundle up warmly into the quiet nights - let your senses take it all in, after all it's so pretty at this time of year. Write poetry, sketch and draw, buy paints and crayons and let your soul come through words and drawings. Write letters - remember? The old fashioned way, with paper and pens!

Use this time of quiet reminisce to reflect and recharge. Accept thoughts and watch over them as they knock on your door. It's up to you if you open that door or not. There is not right or wrong. And more than anything... look after YOU, so that you will be ready to face the New Year.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Miss Rose Sister Violet, and all our love xxxxx