10 things not to do at twixmas

“Community doesn’t have to mean hosting twelve people,
it can mean sitting next to one person on a park bench.”

 

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Twixmas is that strange, sacred stretch between Christmas and New Year when we constantly ask each other “what day is it anyway?” For those of us in the city this can be one of the rare moments where you can listen to the little voice in your head saying “go on… have a lie in”. So, in the spirit of rest rather than resolution, here are 10 things not to do at Twixmas.

1. Don’t tell everyone how busy you are
   This is not the week for competitive exhaustion. Nobody needs to be impressed by how busy you are anymore. For those of us who hit Christmas at full pelt, stopping can feel scary. We may even feel the need to immediately start planning the year ahead. If that’s you, ask yourself:When was the last time I did something that left me more refreshed than when I started? Sleep. A walk without headphones or Instagram. A hot chocolate in a cafe. Start there.
2. Don’t make a New Year’s resolution
   Twixmas is not the time for “New year, new me.” It’s the season for “Same me, more horizontal.” Enjoy these few days without the pressure to be a better person.
3. Don’t write a list
   Lists are for before Christmas. If you feel the urge to write one now, picture Santa’s exhausted elves, quietly sobbing, and gently place that list straight in the bin.
4. Don’t feel guilty for sitting down
   Yes, rest can look active: a gentle walk, a swim, a stretch to remind you that the ground is still further away than it looks. But it can also look like sitting down with a cup of tea and staring into the middle distance. This is not laziness. This is serious spiritual practice.
5. Don’t avoid your uncomfortable emotions
   Christmas has a way of unwrapping some unwanted feelings. Grief, loneliness, disappointment, questions. Try not to quickly wrap them up and shove them behind the sofa. God is remarkably comfortable with your feelings, even the messy ones. This is a good time to feel them, and maybe even start to process them too.
6. Don’t isolate yourself completely
   Some solitude can be holy. Total disappearance is usually not. If you can, share a meal, send a voice note, take a walk with someone. Community doesn’t have to mean hosting twelve people, it can mean sitting next to one person on a park bench and examining together why Uncle Tony has bought you identical pairs of socks 3 years in a row.
7. Don’t avoid church altogether
   Too many carols? One mince pie too far? Still recovering from the vicar’s Christmas jokes? That’s understandable. Twixmas church is usually gentler. Fewer expectations and over-baked illustrations, more space to breathe and be human in God’s presence with your church family.
8. Don’t resist prayer
   With slower mornings and later nights, this can be a surprisingly good time to pray without the pressure to do it “properly.” Lectio 365 is a simple and uncomplicated way to start a lazy day listening to God’s word and talking to Him.
9. Don’t compare your Twixmas to anyone else’s
   Social media insists everyone else is either on a magical family retreat or smashing life goals with their new colour-coded planners. Neither is compulsory. Your Twixmas can be quiet, ordinary, or mildly chaotic. And still holy.
10. Don’t rush to move on
    The world will pick up speed again very soon. Emails will return. Alarms will sound. For now, breathe, relax, pray, and let this in-between time do its gentle work. 

I pray you have a very merry Twixmas, and a happy, and peaceful New Year.

Lectio 365: lectio365.com