Sunday Step Up and Rituals

Hi friends, how are you?

We just celebrated Halloween. I bet you have a ritual unique to your family.

I just loved pictures on social media where families dressed up in a theme. Like Superheroes or movie characters or other interesting ideas like a "bug expert" and all his sisters were the lady bugs. I miss the days when I got to create little outfits for my littles. My littlest is taller than me now and a bit reluctant to dress up. The older ones went out with friends. But that's besides the point.

What ritual do you have?

Maybe you dressed up as a family? Do you serve a certain meal or snack? Do you watch a certain movie? Do you have a special decoration? Do you trick or treat in a special neighbor hood?

I bet you have something that makes your family's ritual unique. Gottman calls this "rituals for connection".

Holidays don't just lend themselves to stress!! but also to connection. If you are intentional about it.

It's also never too late to start a new ritual. Maybe you are in a new relationship and you have two completely different ways of celebrating Halloween. What a great time to talk about them and try out something new. And compromise.

For me, Halloween didn't exist in Germany, where I was raised. We celebrated "Fashing", which is more like a carnival, a very PG rated Mardi Gras. In February. So I embraced new traditions.

If you have been in a relationship for a long time and the kids are grown, what a great opportunity to make up new rituals. What would each of you consider a fun idea for next year's Halloween? Try them out and compromise.

Did you know they are no laws about how to celebrate any holiday???? You can even skip it all together if you like.

I believe my 2 newlywed children and their spouses stayed home and watched a movie.

This applies to the upcoming holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas just the same.

What ritual did you come up with? Which one can you not part with? Which one could you care less about?

PS: Message me for a free consult to start exploring new ways to grow your relationship to a deeper level.

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.

Until next time, Isabelle

Call or write for a free life coaching consultation #732-331-2246 Isabellestephensoncoach@gmail.com