The song lyrics in “Joy to the World” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” say it all. Christmas is meant to be a season of cheer and happiness. Funnily enough, though, we women sometimes look for this feeling of joy in all the wrong places.Who else has a mental checklist that sounds something like this:
Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning writer, artist and filmmaker and has set herself apart for her bereavement advocacy. She is a leading expert in creativity and healing. She has become an advocate in supporting and educating others on how to process their grief in creative and authentic ways, promoting healing through the arts and sharing stories in community. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and photography from the University of Alberta, and her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker and has traveled around the world presenting on art, writing, and the healing capacities of creativity. Her documentary film, also called Expecting Sunshine, subtitled, “The truth about pregnancy after loss” follows her second pregnancy after loss. She is widely published in anthologies and magazines, and her artwork has been exhibited internationally with critical acclaim. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her husband and their three living children. Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss will be available on April 2017 through She Writes Press wherever books are sold. Learn more about her book and documentary, Expecting Sunshine: The Truth About Pregnancy After Loss, at www.ExpectingSunshine.com. Connect with Alexis Marie Chute on Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, and at www.AlexisMarieChute.com, www.ExpectingSunshine.com, www.WantedChosenPlanned.com, www.AlexisMarieArt.com, and www.AlexisMarieWrites.com.
- Find the perfect holiday party dress that disguises certain key areas
- Shrink said key areas by hitting the gym and pounding back smoothies
- Buy memorable gifts for family and twenty close friends
- Arrive extra early to the kids Christmas concert to get the best seats
- Hunt for a hilarious present for the office’s Christmas gift exchange
- Pull out all the decorations and turn the house into a winter wonderland
- Doing the things that make me happy instead of being a people-pleaser
- Caring more about people than I do about possessions and appearances
- Celebrating who I am, just the way I am
- Feeling empowered that I can control my response to anything life brings my way
- Being content that I cannot do everything, and that is okay
- Enjoying the moment because life is short and joy cannot wait
