Some mornings in December, it feels like the whole country is held together by nothing but salt trucks, coffee, and women trying their absolute best. Halifax students dragging themselves into clinic on four hours of sleep. Carleton County women shuffling into the office with their wet socks from the slush puddle in the parking lot. Moms praying the school doesn’t call because the youngest “feels warm.”
And meanwhile, your body is whispering, “Hey… I’m kind of tired. Maybe a little cold. Maybe a little crispy around the edges.”
Which, honestly? Same.
In TCM, this is the season where your Kidney Qi wants to tuck in, slow food, warm drinks, early nights, less hustle. But December doesn’t care about what my texbooks say. December has potlucks and gift exchanges and end of year targets and your kid needing a Rudolf costume for a Christmas concert tonight.
So this is your gentle reminder (from one woman in the trenches to another) that you’re not meant to feel “on” right now. You’re meant to conserve. Rest where you can. Add broth to supper. Take the longest shower you can manage without someone pounding on the door.
Winter is asking your body to gather itself, not prove anything.
And honestly? You’re doing beautifully.
A Gentle Note: I’m a student of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and this space reflects my learning as it unfolds. TCM is deep, layered, and complex, and I’m still finding my footing within it. I will refine my understanding over time. I will make mistakes. That’s part of doing this honestly. What I share here is my current perspective, shaped by my teachers, clinical training, lived experience, and my own biases. It’s not absolute, it’s evolving. I welcome thoughtful conversation, shared insight, and respectful correction along the way. I humbly welcome your insight. Let’s learn together. You can always find me over on Instagram to keep the conversation going.