Less Stress at the holidays | charlotte family photographer

This year, for the first time ever, last week Mike and I went onto Amazon and purchased the majority of our Christmas presents for our kids.

What I dislike…intensely

I’ll tell you right now, I’m a terrible shopper. As in, I dislike it intensely. My mom said to not say you hate things or people so there it is. Out there. And I didn’t use the word ‘hate’.

It’s always felt like something that we had to do though…go out to the stores and shop and shop. This year we did something different. And I have to say, I love it! This week, we keep having more and more packages come to our doorstep so it’s like Christmas everyday for us and the kids. They bought things online for each other and so they anxiously and with great anticipation wait for the UPS guy to deliver their packages.

Why I like Michelangelo

It makes me think of the way Michelangelo sculpted when he said that what was meant to be born from the marble was already there, he just had to take away what wasn’t meant to be there so the The David could be seen.

Michelangelo was right about more than just sculpture. What he said is true of our lives and especially of the next week or so.

The more we take away, the more we see what is really meant to be in our lives. We’ve done less in store shopping this year because we knew it was one of the things that would help us to have more of what we really want in our lives and less of what we don’t want in our life. More connection, more being with the people we love, less stress.

What could you do less of?

How could you be like Michelangelo and take away all of the things that don’t make something beautiful of your holidays?

Less time on your cell phone
Less varieties of cookies
Lower expectations
Less DIY projects
Less crafts
Less activities scheduled
Narrowing down to your 2-3 favorite traditions
Being satisfied with ‘good enough’
Less stress and more laughter
Less time with too many people and more time alone
Less time in the house and more time outside in the sunshine
Letting go of doing what you think you have to do
Less trying to make a magazine/Pinterest worthy house or party

Do less

What are you willing to say you’re going to do less of? I promise it will be worth it. Mike and I have said so many times, “Oh my goodness. We are so doing this next year.”

I’d love to hear about what you’re going to do less of, send me a reply to this email and please what you’re committing to doing less.

Here’s to holidays filled with doing less.

Love to you,

from our home to yours

P.S. I’m coming to a city near you!

Details

I have 2 hour sessions, half day sessions, and full day sessions available! To inquire about details click HERE.

If you live in one of these cities, I can’t wait to hear from you. If you know of someone who does live in one of these cities and would love a session like this, please forward this email to them!

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Davina Fear is a Charlotte family photographer and Familyness Adventurer. She believes in bed time chats and bike rides down mountains and in families who see that real life doesn’t have to be polished to be beautiful.