Hey Rebel,
December is here, and so is the pressure to bake, host, decorate, and hustle like it’s a competitive sport. Not this year. This month’s theme is Sparkle Without the Shoulds because your shine shouldn’t require over-functioning, self-abandoning, or saying yes when your whole body is screaming no.
This year, we’re not adding more traditions that drain us. We’re building five new ones that honor you. They are not for your family, your coworkers, your in-laws, or the holiday Pinterest boards. They’re for your nervous system. Your hormones. Your emotional load. Your peace.
The Target Smile
Last week I sat in the Target parking lot with my holiday list in one hand and my sanity somewhere under the car seat, probably. I took a breath before getting out, already feeling the December pressure creeping in.
And then she pulled up beside me. Another woman doing the exact same here we go exhale before stepping into the holiday chaos.
We made eye contact through our driver-side windows. Just a half-smile. But you know the one.
- The I’m tired.
- The I’m overwhelmed.
- The I’m carrying too much and still showing up because that’s what we do.
For a split second, we were two strangers united in the sisterhood of women who make the magic while also quietly drowning in the demands of it.
But there was something else in that smile too. I like to think there was a tiny spark of rebellion. A shared knowing that… maybe we don’t have to keep doing it like this. Maybe we can put some of the holiday shoulds down this year.
That moment reminded me: Women don’t need more traditions to uphold.
We need new ones that actually uphold us.
And that’s what we’re doing this month by starting five new December traditions that aren’t about being festive or productive or impressive. They’re about being well, whole, and about letting you sparkle without the shoulds.
NEW TRADITION: The Sparkly No
This month, we’re starting a rebellion disguised as a ritual. Every week, you choose one holiday activity, expectation, emotional load, or performance that you are officially not doing.
It will probably feel weird, horrible, or even disappointing (your girl here suffers from FOMO 100% of the time!). But try it anyway because your hormones, your bandwidth, and your peace deserve one clear, sparkly boundary.
Your Sparkly No could look like:
- No, I’m not baking 47 kinds of cookies because Pinterest said so.
- No, I’m not attending every holiday party. I’m attending the ones that feel warm, not obligatory.
- No, I’m not hosting this year unless I actually want to.
- No, I’m not managing everyone’s emotions across the dinner table.
- No, I’m not doing matching pajamas photos that end in tears.
- No, I’m not buying last-minute gifts to impress people I don’t even like.
Your Sparkly No is your way of saying: My shine matters as much as everyone else's comfort.
One boundary. Once a week. All December long.
This is how we melt the “shoulds,” protect your energy, and reclaim the part of you that’s been buried under wrapping paper and expectations.
And here’s the best part: Your Sparkly No is a tradition for you; not for your family, not for the group chat, not for the holiday machine.
Just you. Your peace. Your sparkle. Give it a try! I am here to cheer you on!
A Quick Note… Yes, This Email Is a Day Late
This email is arriving fashionably late because I didn’t follow the shoulds around my own period this month.
- I should’ve pushed through.
- I should’ve powered up.
- I should’ve acted normal.
But my body had other plans and instead of fighting her, I listened. Because nothing tanks hormones faster than forcing yourself to perform when your system is clearly saying STOP.
So I chose the slower route. The honest one. The one where I let my period be a period instead of a productivity test. And honestly? That choice is exactly why this week and this month matter so much. We’re unlearning the shoulds, especially the ones around women’s bodies.
Which brings me to this week’s podcast episode:
🎙️ Ladies Don’t Talk About Their Periods in Public. They Whisper About PMS.
In this episode, I’m pulling the curtain back on why we hide menstrual symptoms, how PMS gets dismissed as a personality flaw, and why so many women are taught to minimize what their bodies are actually trying to say.
If you’ve ever felt like you had to act fine while your hormones were staging a full-blown protest… this one’s for you.
Listen to it here before it goes live tomorrow!
What’s Coming the Rest of This Sparkly, Should-Free December
All month long, we’re building new traditions; the ones that support you, not your to-do list. Here’s a peek at what’s ahead:
✨ Week 2: The Joy You Don’t Have to Earn
✨ Week 3: Sparkly Boundaries Week✨ Week 4: Soft Body Week
✨ Week 5: Your 2026 Sparkly Superpower
💛 Your Turn
Reply and tell me:
What’s one thing you’re saying no to this week?
Big or small, practical or petty - every no counts. And it’s your first step toward Sparkling Without the Shoulds.
Stay Loud. Raise Hell! - Even Through the Holidays!
Tracey
That Hormone Girl
