The Best Gift You Can Give

Dear Friends,

If the last few weeks have been about slowing down and rewriting the recipe, this week is about the simplest, most nourishing ingredient of all — presence.

My first alcohol-free Christmas certainly wasn’t perfect. There were awkward pauses, moments of longing, and plenty of second-guessing my choice.

But each year since, a lot of things have shifted. And heading into my 7th alcohol-free Christmas, all of the awkwardness and fear of missing out is gone.

Instead of chasing that quick dopamine rush from the first glass, I treat myself to delicious food, non-alc cocktails and soothing herbal teas - no guilt required (As an aside, one generous glass of wine is equal to one mince pie, so I can have at least two and still come out on top.)

When the prawns are on the table, I savour them.
When someone tells a story, I actually listen instead of interrupting.
When the laughter comes, I feel it fully instead of letting it all float past in a blur.

And the best parts? I remember it all and I gift myself the joy of starting another year crystal clear, not foggy, excited, not regretful, and healthy, not inflamed and bloated.

It turns out, the greatest gift we can give our loved ones — and ourselves — is our undivided presence and attention.

No numbing, no pretending, no pushing through. Just showing up as we are.

🎁 This Week’s Reflection
Before the celebrations begin, take a few moments to pause and write down:

• How do I want to feel this Christmas?

• What truly matters to me about this season?

• How can I bring more presence to the days ahead?

• Instead of focusing on missing out on drinking, what do I want to really want to miss out on? Regret, shame, arguments, and disappointment?

Presence doesn’t mean doing it all. It means being in it all — fully.

✨ As you step into this final week before Christmas, remember: you don’t need alcohol to feel connected, relaxed, or joyful.
You already have everything you need within you - it's risk-free and regret-free.

Will you wake up on Boxing Day with a new confidence in yourself? Why not try it? It's a new, exciting, and rewarding way of experiencing Christmas.

Here’s to a Christmas you’ll truly remember — calm, connected, and proud.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday, however you celebrate,

Sarah Connelly