Every December, a familiar line from an old Christmas carol rises up in me like a whisper: “All is calm, all is bright.”
Over the years, these words have become less about the song and more about an intention, an invitation, to create a season that reflects how I want to feel now. Not rushed. Not overwhelmed. Not performing traditions that no longer fit. Instead, a December that is soft, meaningful, and grounded in what I need most at this stage of life.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, another holiday, or none at all, the end of the year brings shorter days, longer nights, and a cultural pressure to “make it magical.” But perhaps the most meaningful magic comes from something simpler: choosing calm, choosing brightness, and holding space for yourself in the midst of the noise.
Redefining Calm and Bright
At 50, 60, 70 and beyond, our relationship with December often shifts. The children are grown. Or perhaps no children? Family gatherings look different. Expectations from others change. And for many of us, memories both sweet and complicated are within our thoughts.
So, what if calm didn’t mean perfection or productivity, but rather, quiet moments where your shoulders drop and your breath settles?
And what if bright meant not the glitter or the hustle, but small sparks of joy, connection, and beauty?
When we reframe the season this way, we give ourselves permission to shape December intentionally, instead of being swept along by it.
Creating Calm: The Gift of Slowing Down
Calm doesn’t always happen on its own; often, we have to choose it. Here are gentle ways to create calm, no matter what you practice or believe:
Make a “Not-to-Do” List
Let go of traditions or obligations that feel heavy. It’s okay for things to change.
Create a Slow Evening Ritual
Light a candle, put on quiet music, or simply sit with a warm cup of tea for five minutes before bed. The darkness of winter can be an invitation to unwind earlier, not resist it.
Embrace the Early Sunset
Instead of longing for more daylight, use the darker evenings as a cue to soften, dim lights, cozy blankets, nourishing meals.
Give Yourself Technology Limits
A simple “no screens after 8 pm” boundary can create a surprising amount of mental spaciousness.
Take Micro-Rests Throughout the Day
A few deep breaths. A moment of stillness between tasks. These small pauses accumulate into something restorative.
Calm is not the absence of activity; it’s the presence of intention.
Creating Bright: Spark Your Inner Light
Brightness in December can be subtle. It doesn’t need to be loud, expensive, or busy.
Bring Warm Light into Your Home
A single candle, a soft lamp, or fairy lights can shift the energy of an entire room.
Do One Thing That Feels Creative
Perhaps it’s baking, watercolor, knitting, writing, or arranging winter greens in a vase. Creativity brings its own quiet glow.
Spend Time Outdoors, Even Briefly
A winter walk, bundled up, noticing the stillness of nature, can brighten your mood more than you might imagine.
Reach Out to Someone in a Small Way
Send a postcard, leave a thoughtful voicemail, or share a memory with someone who would appreciate it. Connection is its own form of light.
Begin a Simple Gratitude Ritual
Each evening, name one thing that felt bright in your day, no matter how small. Brightness often appears in the moments we choose to notice.
Holding Space for What the Season Brings
December can be a mix of emotions, joy, nostalgia, loneliness, hope, or transition. Instead of pushing any of it away, consider giving yourself permission to hold space for all of it.
You can let the quiet moments be truly quiet.
You can let the bright ones shine without comparison.
You can let the season be what you need, not what you’re told it should be.
Your Calm, Your Bright
My invitation to you this December is simple:
Let all is calm, all is bright become a promise you make to yourself.
Create the calm that nourishes you.
Invite the brightness that warms you.
And allow this season to be one that honors who you are, today, in this chapter, in this moment of your life.
I have truly enjoyed writing for you again this year, and I wish each of you a wonderfully calm and bright season.
Let’s Encourage Each Other:
Please share in the comments how you will create space for yourself this December. Will you make a favorite dish? Will you light a candle with your favorite scent?