The Twelve Days of Christmas (for Highly Sensitive People)

The holidays can be a wonderful time, and a stressful time for all of us.

With all the lights, the decorations, the music, the get-togethers and the food come family, friends, and usually — by the time it’s all over, but sometimes before it even starts — fatigue.

This is especially true for HSPs who usually need quiet and solitude to recharge.

Last week as we put up our decorations and our tree, and as the holiday tunes rang throughout our house, I started thinking: faced with “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, how would an HSP navigate maids a-milking, lords a-leaping, ladies dancing and all the birds and fowl showing up on their doorstep?

Not well, I’m afraid. If you ask most of us, we’d stop at a partridge in a pear tree.

So here is my attempt to re-write the “Twelve Days of Christmas” for the non-HSPs in our lives. And hey, if this helps your family and friends understand you a little better when you retreat to your room during the festivities…? That’s a present that lasts all year long.

The Twelve Days of Christmas (for your HSP):

On the first day of Christmas you give an HSP:

 A book and a cup of tea.

 On the second day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the third day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the fourth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.
 

On the fifth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.
 

On the sixth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Deep conversations, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.
 

On the seventh day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

 On the eighth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Work full of meaning,
Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the ninth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Lifelong connections,
Work full of meaning,
Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the tenth day of Christmas you give an HSP

Room to feel deeply,
Lifelong connections,
Work full of meaning,
Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the eleventh day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Time spent in nature,
Room to feel deeply,
Lifelong connections,
Work full of meaning,
Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

On the twelfth day of Christmas you give an HSP:

Your understanding,
Time spent in nature,
Room to feel deeply,
Lifelong connections,
Work full of meaning,
Causes to believe in,
Deep conversation, and
Five quiet roooooooms!

 Four takeout meals,
Three close friends,
Two days alone,
And a book and a cup of tea.

Enjoy the holidays. And remember — it’s ok to feel tired and stressed, and even a little depressed, too.

Be gentle with yourself.

If you need some time to retreat and recharge, if you need permission to feel less than joyful, give yourself that gift.

For HSPs and non-HSPs alike, gentle permission to be who you are (and to feel whatever feelings you feel) may be the best present of all.

Pic credit via congerdesign