So if that type of behavior is more common than we care to admit, what are we supposed to do about it? That's where this book comes in. In Loving My Actual Christmas, Alexandra proposes an experiment in her own life to change things up - to get away from the frantic rush of the season and get back to the roots behind it.
Breaking the holiday season into the four weeks of advent (hope, love, joy, and peace), and the twelve days of Christmastide, Alexandra journals her weekly focus and goals, as well as the daily reality as to how she managed the proper focus during such a hectic and stressful time of year. We see her struggles (both internal and external), her victories, and her shortcomings. She opens the door to her actual Christmas in order to help us better come to terms with our own - no matter how much we're struggling to just "get through" one more year of this holiday that seems to have lost so much of its brightness as the time has dragged on.
As someone who struggles with "doing it differently" every year and always ends up feeling like an epic failure by the end of it all, I found Alexandra's approach to give me hope that maybe my Christmas doesn't have to follow the traditional chaos this year. Maybe I can refocus and relearn how to celebrate Christmas, while showing my kids that sometimes better also means simpler, slower, and more Christ-centered (something that's always been lacking in this humble abode).
I love that Alexandra approaches this experiment with complete openness and a blank slate, letting us see the less than perfect atmosphere of her own reality. She admits to her own shortcomings with brutal honesty so that we can see that whatever challenges we face, we're never truly alone in this struggle.
For each section of the Christmas season, Alexandra tells us her goals, scripture reading, what she learned, practices she'll continue, and suggested questions for how we can apply her experiment to our own life. She also includes a section of practical tips and strategies at the back of the book, full of mini-essays to help you better manage your holiday season. This includes things like scheduling principles, limiting commitments, navigating extended family relationships, and so much more.
I recommend this book for any woman who finds herself struggling year after year to just push through the holiday season, or for those women who find themselves burnt out on what they've always done and looking for a new perspective on how to make the holidays work - without losing the focus of what the holidays are all about. This book will help anyone to remember to slow down, breathe, and just enjoy the wonderful blessings that this holiday season represents, as well as learning how to bring those blessings into our modern and overbooked world. 5/5 stars.
*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher for the purpose of this honest review. All opinions are my own.*
About The Author (copied from back cover):
Alexandra Kuykendall is the author of Loving My Actual Life and The Artist's Daughter and is the cohost of The Open Door Sisterhood podcast. A popular writer and speaker, Alexandra has been featured on Good Morning America and Focus on the Family's daily broadcast. She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, Derek, and their four daughters.Purchase Links:
Amazon
ChristianBook
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