Surrounded by festive lights, beautifully decorated trees in the corner of perfect living rooms that could be featured in a magazine, haunted by constant last minute gift adverts…I sit on my sofa looking out at the grey sky, and mild and rainy UK weather, sipping ginger and honey to ease cold symptoms, knowing my bank account is feeling less than festive!

My real night of festivity is the Winter Solstice. It feels more like Christmas is supposed to. It’s not about presents, although feasting and enjoying the company of friends and family around the fire is to be encouraged…sharing stories, sipping mulled wine or cider, eating fruit cake or whatever anyone has brought a long…that’s Christmas to me.

And in the wee hours of a cold winter morning, before the sun appears in the eastern sky, the deep contemplative quiet of winter stirs me far more than any town centre of people rushing around in some sort of attempt to create a perfect Christmas, often on a very small budget, with a pretend grin plastered in place so they don’t appear to be a Scrooge!

This year, like many, my own budget is small. Instead of buying presents, I have mainly looked around my house and thought of someone, and what they might enjoy from my own things. And doing this made me feel far more cheerful, abundant, and also thankful for these people in my life than going shopping, online or in town.

The tree is small, but perfect for my cottage. The food will be simple fare, but nourishing, comforting and shared with those I love.

Capitalism took over Christmas and brought with it so much stress and unnecessary worry. At a time when our immune systems need a boost to keep out the super flu bugs and viruses which prevail at this time of year, it encourages rich foods, lots of sugar, and of course huge amounts of alcohol. Not to mention the spend, spend, spend mentality!

I’m not saying don’t feast well! But perhaps some moderation would help our immune systems and our purse!

You don’t have to judge yourself as a bit of a Scrooge by moderating your Christmas. In fact, you will become less of one if you take time to sit, breathe, let wisdom and intuition whisper louder than fear, and then give yourself chance to really enjoy the true Christmas spirit… which is gifting yourself the love and appreciation you deserve.

And hey, you made it through one of the craziest years so far! Celebrate that! Its not to be sniffed at!