Throughout the holidays, people enjoy lavish dinners, rich desserts, and beverages (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic) that tend to leave them feeling guilty post-holidays. You start to hear people complaining, “I swear I gained 10 pounds during the holidays,” and you become steadily aware of your appearance. Many people find the body negativity around the holidays to be both triggering for eating disorders and general weight watching. Consider this article as a friendly reminder to take care of your mind first during the holidays and as a reminder to others to be sensitive to other people before you share any contagious negative energy surrounding food.
This holiday season, treat yourself. Regardless of whether that means breaking free from your 24/7 healthy eating and having a treat or binge-watching every holiday movie on Netflix that your brain can absorb. COVID-19 has brought plenty of challenges to the world, which has affected us as students attempting to succeed, professors missing teaching what they love (to both smiling and half-asleep faces), athletes longing for games to look forward to, and everyone in-between. Take this winter break to let your mind and body rest because the 2020-2021 school year has tested our resilience to the highest degree thus far. Acadia is full of brave individuals, and together let us bring our community a peaceful pause, even in our current situation.
Over the winter break, individuals’ living situations have been flipped entirely by the pandemic, and our holiday meals will likely all vary. Large amounts of people will donate food, prepare food for their families, or continue on their university budget meals. Most years, people have the power to invite friends over to celebrate, but people face restrictions this year. Check-in on your loved ones this holiday season and embrace the warmth of relaxation. Consider calories and weight off the table as you pass the holidays and enjoy yourself.
Goods and commodities have been treated either with greed or scarcity, depending on the individual’s situation, and people alternatively deserve any non-material commodities over the break: love, shelter, care, and happiness. As human beings, we cling to material objects, but if the pandemic has taught us anything, material possessions will come and go, and we will live without them, but the virtues that we share and possess shed light on each other’s lives. Provide yourself with forgiveness, self-care, and sensitivity not only during the break but in general.
