Happy Thanksgiving!
So very grateful!
I’m going to keep it brief this week. As this lands in your inbox, I’ll be busy making pies with my mom (pumpkin, pecan, mincemeat). My parents are hosting Thanksgiving this year, and we’re trying to get a headstart on the day. My dad and I are going to take the kiddo to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time (if you have any tips, let me know), and I’m excited to introduce him to an event I watched on TV as a kid. All in all, it should be a pretty low-key holiday with my parents, in-laws, and some family friends, plus a lot of football watching (go, Niners!) and probably a little Scotch drinking.
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If I’m being honest, the holidays are not my season. I get very stressed out by all of it—the forced family time, the insane levels of consumerism (more on that in a future newsletter), the pressure to have an Instagram-worthy holiday where everyone looks so happy in their matching PJs. Meanwhile, at work, it’s the sprint to the end of the year where you’re supposed to be planning for 2024 as you wrap up 2023. As a mom, you’re expected to make magic; as an employee, you’re supposed to be performing year-end miracles. It’s exhausting.
I don’t want this newsletter to devolve into a holiday bitchfest, but I also didn’t want you to think I’m some sort of seasonal saint who has her shit together. I certainly do not. But I’m trying hard to be a bit more relaxed about it all this year, let go of my ridiculous ideas of what the holidays should be, and embrace the imperfection of it all. If my standards are lower, will I have more fun? I’m going to give it a try and report back. (I’m sure it also helps that I don’t have a full-time job, and I’m not bogged down writing dreaded year-end reviews on top of choosing the perfect gifts for everyone on my list!)
Hopefully you don’t have a Thanksgiving like Holly Hunter in Home For The Holidays, though I think many people can relate to this dinner scene. (Such a good movie if you haven’t seen it!)
This year, I’m feeling particularly grateful for my community. Over the last six months, so many people have shown up for me, made introductions, encouraged me to keep going, and taken me seriously even when I’ve had trouble showing myself the same respect. I’ve made new friends and strengthened my relationships with old ones. There’s nothing better than the afternoon after a newsletter goes out, when my inbox fills up with notes from friends and total strangers who may one day be friends sharing their own experiences. I am so very thankful that you read this newsletter.
And on that note, I’m going to wrap things up and wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving. Here’s hoping that travel is somewhat manageable, your kids are somewhat well-behaved, the turkey is somewhat tasty, and your relatives are somewhat tolerable. Remember, it’s just a day! (And every mom is allowed to take a timeout or two to hide in the bathroom with a glass of wine and rage-text a friend or play a word game on her phone.) We’ll be on the other side of the holidays before you know it!
xx
Lindsey
p.s. A very happy birthday to my wonderful husband, Ken. This newsletter would be riddled with typos and errant commas if not for his top-notch proofreading skills—plus he doesn’t fuss too much when I write about him. (He still won’t let me buy a sofa, but we’re working on it!) Blast some ska in his honor this weekend.
p.p.s. Thank you to everyone who donated to my fundraisers! We hit the match last week, and I’ll be donating $85 to each organization (roughly splitting up the $250 match I promised). The fundraisers are still up on Instagram for anyone to contribute (Everytown and Save the Children). And even if you don’t contribute to mine, a friendly reminder that next Tuesday, November 28, is Giving Tuesday, and many companies will match employee donations. Please take advantage if you can! It’s basically free money for causes you care about!
p.p.p.s. Sorry for so many addendums today, but I wanted to add one more! A new friend is hosting a retreat in early December that I thought might be of interest to Purse readers. Here are the details: If you feel that where you are now in your work is not where you're meant to be, but you’re unsure of what’s next in your career, consider joining the What's Next Collective Retreat! It takes place December 8th-10th at a beautiful space in the Hudson Valley, New York (that is reachable by train) and focuses on practical, facilitated solo and group exercises (think post-its, not trust falls). Included in the package is a month of virtual, strategic support to empower you to take action. Learn more and sign up at whatsnextcollective.com. Registration ends November 27th, and there are limited spots available for this group.
