My Christmas Wish!

Clara Park, R.Ac

December is here.  It is the month that winter officially begins. It’s the season of thicker coats, warm food, shorter days, and the time when nature naturally slows down, turns inward, rests, and restores its energy.

Meanwhile, humans somehow get even busier.  For us, December is the month when we collectively attempt the impossible: doing everything, seeing everyone, buying everything all at once.

Christmas Then & Now

When I was young, I waited for Christmas just to soak in the magic, the lights, the music, and, oh, Santa Claus, how I loved waiting for him!  How I wished with all my heart that I made it onto his “good” list and would receive a toy I didn’t even know existed!

Now, approaching 50, I wait for Christmas in a very different way.  This is the season I long for deep, restorative rest.  My anticipation for Christmas now feels like crossing the finish line of a long marathon.  I imagine a world where we could all step into our very own hibernation chambers for a full week - quiet, warm pods where we simply rest and restore.   No alarms, no errands, no cooking or cleaning (yes, parents, you know what I mean), no trying.  Just stillness.  Yes, this is my ultimate Christmas wish!

What Real Rest Looks Like (for Me)

For me, real rest sometimes looks like lying down in the middle of the day with a few acupuncture needles in place, feeling my body and mind slowly release tension and drift off.  Or sometimes sitting quietly with a simple warm meal, like noodle soup, and indulging chocolate after the salty and savoury meal.  Other times, just a few moments of listening to the birds singing in the middle of walk in the forest.  There’s no rushing, no doing, no worrying.  Just sensing the body, savoring warmth, and letting the quiet of the moment settle into my body and mind.

A Little TCM Wisdom

Winter is the season of slowing down, conserving energy, and turning inward, which aligns beautifully with the Kidney system in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).  The Kidneys are considered the root of vitality, storing our deepest reserves of energy and nourishing the body through rest, warmth, and gentle care.

This is why winter is the time for warm foods, quiet evenings, slower movement, and giving ourselves permission to nurture ourselves deeply.  By supporting the Kidneys with these practices, we align our body with the natural rhythms of the season, allowing both body and mind to restore, replenish, and flourish.

Nature slows down. Your body wants to. Let it.

Learning to Rest Without Earning It

It’s funny.  I talk about rest all the time, yet I’m not very good at resting without feeling like I need to earn.  My default is “Finish everything first, then rest!”  My husband can tell you in detail how I’ve mastered this mindset.  The “rest” I get often arrives as the leftover scraps of the day.

I notice that I use rest like a reward, not like natural nourishment.  When I observe the nature, animals and plants in the winter don’t rest because they got everything done.  They rest because it’s time to rest.

I’m slowly learning to treat rest the same way, though it still feels somewhat unfamiliar deep down.  I try to tell myself that rest is NOT something I earn.  It is simply something my body instinctively does because I am a part of nature.  

As I’m finishing the last blog of 2025, I wish your winter be filled with moments of stillness, warmth, and deep rest - and maybe even a little imaginary hibernation chamber magic to carry you through the season!