Episode 4: Broken Holidays

Happy Holidays! In this episode, Hannah and Alexa talk about the the holidays and why they seem a little broken. They explore the various experiences and emotions, the joy and the pain, the crazy and the funny and the sadness and the frustrations that come with the season. They remind listeners that it is ok to not be ok. Hannah and Alexa each discuss their own holiday memories and share what the season means to each of them. They explore all of the pressure that is involved with trying to make a "perfect" holiday. This episode explains why "should" is a bad word in therapy and what "shouding on yourself" means. Hannah and Alexa identify the "shoulds" and the expectations of the holiday season. They also talk about the opportunity to create new traditions and why it's important to prioritize yourself during the holiday season. They share their discoveries of upside down Christmas trees and something called "pornmas". The episode takes a turn when Hannah and Alexa start talking about the hard things that come with this time of year. They discuss what they see clients struggling with, as well as their own personal struggles. Alexa shares about the loss of her best friend and how she feels the loss more deeply during the holidays. Hannah discusses the loneliness of being a single mom at Christmas. Grief, loss, loneliness, and sadness impact how many people experience the holidays and the other times in life that "should" be happy. This episode talks about how to survive and how to find meaning in holidays, even during times of grief. Hannah and Alexa discover that it is ok to still feel brokenness even in a season that is supposed to be full of joy and light. Listeners are reminded to practice gratitude, ask for help, be vulnerable, reduce expectations, have self-compassion and empathy, communicate honestly and evaluate traditions to find and create meaning during the holidays. Hannah and Alexa wish all of their listeners a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Credits: Music: Tobymac, "Bring on the Holidays", Light of Christmas album (2017), Capitol CMG Label Group