Unwrapping Presence and The Moments That Matter This Holiday Season

This holiday season feels different. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but something has shifted. There is a heaviness in the air that feels like more than the usual holiday hustle and bustle. It feels broader and harder to shake.

As someone who works with parts and nervous systems, I notice how extreme everything feels right now. Social media, ads, AI, division within our world, the pace of life, constant stimulation, and the endless stream of Amazon packages arriving at our doors. Everything feels louder, faster, and bigger. The holidays only amplify it, like adding more weight to something that is already stretched thin.

Longing for Simplicity

Amid all this noise, there is a part of me that longs for simpler times. I remember being a child, when the holidays felt like pure, unfiltered joy radiating from every corner of the room. That part still yearns for laughter, connection, and moments that remind me we are all floating together on this big, beautiful rock in outer space, with stars shining above us.

I appreciate that part of me. It helps me remember what truly matters and gently guides me back to it in small, meaningful ways, even now.

Staying Grounded Instead of Forcing Joy

This year, instead of fighting against the heaviness or forcing myself to feel festive, I have been paying attention to what actually helps me stay grounded.

I pull the people closest to me even closer. I linger a little longer in moments that feel real and connected.

I practice coming back, again and again, to where I am standing. I feel my feet on the ground and let my attention rest on one single moment instead of the hundreds competing for it. This reminds me that this moment, this breath, this small pocket of presence is enough right now.

Small Choices Still Matter

When everything feels tense, these small choices matter more than we often realize. We may not be able to change the world overnight, but we can be the change in our own corner. Focusing on the people and spaces we can influence can ripple outward in ways we might never see.

I do not think the answer to feeling heavy is disconnecting or pretending it is not there, even though that can be tempting. I think the answer is caring for ourselves and our relationships more intentionally. Narrowing our focus. Choosing depth over noise.

In doing so, we create pockets of hope, connection, and joy that make a real difference, not just for us, but for the people around us.

You Are Not Failing the Holidays

If this season feels heavy or strange to you, you are not failing at the holidays. You are responding to a world that feels overstimulated and uncertain.

Maybe the most meaningful thing we can do right now is stay present, hold each other a little closer, and allow moments of beauty and humor to exist alongside the weight we are carrying.

If you are reading this and thinking yes, that is exactly it, know that you are not alone.

From all of us at Mosaic, we are wishing you a holiday season that makes space for joy and heaviness, laughter and quiet, presence and connection. May you notice the small moments of beauty around you, feel the warmth of those you love, and recognize the ways you can make a difference right where you are.

Sometimes, that really is enough.

Written By: Jessica Sahoury, MA, LMFTA