Are these “Happy Holidays” Happy?

“Mystery of the Season.” Acrylic painting. 36” x 48” ©Andrea Sutrick

Are these really “Happy Holidays?” Has this time of year lost its magic?
As each year passes, you anticipate having to do the things…

… Watch the Christmas store displays and music up before Thanksgiving

… Stress over buying gifts

… Overeat and pay the regret

… Put up those decorations

And put up with that family.

So what does our holiday stress look like in 2025? With the economy challenges, 41% of people are reporting more stress than last year, which is up 28% as compared to prior years according to psychiatry.org.  

What’s interesting though is while stress is present, people still report looking forward to seeing friends and family, eating yummy food, and giving and receiving gifts. People also worry about grief, challenging family dynamics and feeling lonely.

What I hope you’re picking up on is the duality of the holidays. The opportunity is noticing these two opposite forces between the happiness of the season with its undercurrent of sadness.

Literally, this month, we experience this dichotomy as the winter solstice, a magical day of the longest night of darkness with every day following, growing longer in light.

How can you move towards a sense of harmony? The goal is not to get rid of the darknesses or hold too tightly to the joys. There actually is no plan to achieve. Simply, pay attention to this present moment right now nonjudgmentally. This season, invite curiosity.

Being curious connects us with creativity. A curious mind space can help you be flexible to find new solutions or novel approaches and most importantly, to embrace uncertainty and free your mind.

Making art is a way to find action in the uncertainty of this season. Doodling, painting, scribbling, collecting nature and more is nurturing and connecting, giving you a pause from the hustle and bustle.

What if holding this mindful spirt can free you from old patterns? How might I consider new holiday traditions and experiences with family or friends? How could I mindfully taste and eat with delight and move in activity? How could trusting this seemingly non-doing space help me feel fully connected in the present?

Ready to see the holidays from a fresh perspective? Therapy with me folds in this sense of mindful presence with creative art therapy expression and the healing benefits of EMDR. Let’s make a fresh start together to create your calm for clarity and change. Feel free to reach out for a free consult.

You can also learn more about the work I do on the Meet Andrea page.

I’m here to help, connecting you with your true spirit of the season.

Andrea Sutrick, ATR-BC, LMHC

So what about the image?

Art making is action and I make art to explore my deep yearnings. Today, I wonder why the holidays are so hard? Why is the anticipation so difficult? The color purple is often symbolic of times of change and contemplation. As I painted, I chose to start with a blackish-dark purple on the border of the image and as I worked, the purples got lighter and even a faint glimmer of a landscape opened. My heart’s wish is to embrace the difficulty of the season for those I support in therapy. I hope to be a connector in this time of mystery.