🎄 Maria Mojo Mondays: Is the Holiday Hustle Stealing Your Joy?

Hey, Mindset Maverick …

Let’s talk about the hustle and bustle we put on ourselves during the holidays.

The pressure.
The expectations.
The frenzy.

The need to get the right gifts.
The need for everything to look perfect.
The need for the house to be spotless.
The meals to be flawless.
The traditions to be executed just right.

I remember being home for Christmas in New York and watching my Mom stress herself out.

The house had to be cleaned perfectly.
The family was coming over.
Every entrée had to be just right.
All the Italian desserts had to be made.
Most of them from scratch.
Every gift had to be wrapped perfectly.

Honestly, she created a lot of stress for herself.

One day, in the middle of all that tension, my wife gently stopped her and asked a very simple question:

“Do you really enjoy all of this, Mom? You don’t look like you do.”

My Mom responded immediately.

“Yes, Liz. I do.”
(and she didn’t answer that sweetly - hahaha; it was more in a frustrating way)

Her energy said something different.
Her face said something different.
Her body said something different.

And that moment stuck with me.

Because in my mind, all the hype and crazy shopping and self-imposed chaos around Christmas is not what the holiday is all about.

✨ What the Holidays Are Really About

The holidays are about spending quality time with the people you love.

Or, if you are alone and needing connection, they are about giving your time to people who could really use it.

People who might not get a warm meal.
People who might not see a smiling face.
People who might feel forgotten.

They are about something my neighbor does every year.

He becomes Santa for the entire season.
(And I must say, he is the best damn Santa I have ever seen - who knows, maybe he is Santa?!)

He visits nursing homes.
Memory care facilities.
Places where joy does not show up very often.

He brings laughter.
Connection.
Warmth.
Moments of happiness.

He spreads love to people who need it most.

That, to me, is the spirit of the season.

💡 A Pause for Perspective

If you are running around like a chicken with no head right now, trying to make everything perfect, I want you to pause.

Just stop.
Breathe.

And take a moment to ask yourself:

What really matters?

Because I learned that answer in a pivotal moment of my life.

💔 A Moment That Gave Perspective on What Matters Most

When my father had a bad fall in his apartment, he was hospitalized and then sent to a rehab facility.

That facility neglected his care.

He ended up with pneumonia.

The staff thought he was fine.
He wasn’t.

I had to be the one to tell the nurse that something was wrong.

He was rushed to the hospital.

And his last words to us were these:

“Girls, I know we had our differences, but we all did the best we could.
Let bygones be bygones.
I love you both, and that’s all that matters.”

That is the point of this message.

That is the perspective I want you to hold onto this week.

💛 The Truth We Forget

Stop working so hard to create joy that you forget to experience it.

This applies to the holidays.
And it applies to your entire life.

If you have a goal and you are working so hard to achieve it that you forget to enjoy the journey, then you are missing the point of life.

Life is meant to be enjoyed.

Yes, there are bumps in the road.
Yes, there are moments of sadness, frustration, anger, and disappointment.

But when you are in a moment where you get to choose how much chaos and pressure you allow into your life, choose wisely.

💬 Real Talk

If my parents were still alive right now, the only thing that would matter to me is getting the chance to hug them again.

To tell them I love them.

I would not care if I ate a hamburger for Christmas.
I would not care about fancy meals.
I would not care about decorations.

I would care about connection.
Presence.
Pure love.

That’s it.

💛 Your Mojo Perspective Shift

Whether you realize it or not, you create many of the stressors in your life.

And now, more than ever, as this year winds down and a new one approaches, I strongly recommend this:

Make your joy your priority.
Make your health your priority.
Make your peace your priority.

Choose you.

Not perfectly.
Not performatively.
But intentionally.

⚡ Maria Mojo Boost

Joy is not found in perfection.
It is found in presence.

Slow down.
Breathe.
Let bygones be bygones.

And remember what truly matters.

💛 A Wish for You

As this year winds down and the holidays unfold, my wish for you is simple.

May you have a Lovin’ Life Holiday Season filled with abundant peace, love, and presence.
May my energy reach your home, your heart, and your moments, gently reminding you to slow down, breathe, and savor what truly matters.

I’m sending you positivity, warmth, and a big virtual holiday hug.
You are not alone, and you are deeply supported.

With love and gratitude,

Maria Mojo 💛
Maria Lesetz
Your Mindset & Resilience Coach
Founder, Lovin’ Life