Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, so are we ready
to deck the halls and all that?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Not quite yet.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
But we are diving
into Advent.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Yes, we are.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
And I promise you,
this is going to be a lot more
than just your typical countdownto presents thing.
Okay, good, because I was alittle worried about that yeah,
we're going to go way beyondcandy canes and wrapping paper
today Wow.
We're going to uncover somehistory.
We're going to look attraditions.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Okay, some history
we're going to look at
traditions Okay, and we'll seehow those traditions can be
valuable.
Today You've got a ton ofinformation about this like all
the origins and traditions, evensome journal prompts, and I'm
very curious to unpack it all.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Yeah, let's go deep.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
But like what are we
trying to get out of this today?
Speaker 2 (00:38):
So I think our
mission today is to really
extract those unexpected nuggetsof wisdom about Advent, like go
beyond just the surface leveland discover practical things
that you can actually use.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Yes, I am all about
practical application.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
So where do we even
begin with Advent?
Because I have to say myknowledge is a little fuzzy
beyond, just like the Adventcalendar countdown.
I mean that's fair Most.
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Most people are at
that level, right, but the word
Advent, it actually comes fromthe Latin word Adventus.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
And it means coming
or arrival.
So it's really aboutanticipating and preparing for
Christmas.
Yeah, but the preparation partis where it gets interesting.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Okay, interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So historically,
Advent was a time of fasting and
spiritual discipline, kind ofsimilar to Lent.
It was a time for introspectionand repentance to prepare for
Christ's birth.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
Wow, okay, so like a
completely different vibe than
what we think of now, right,it's like Advent had this whole
other life before we hadchocolate in our calendars.
Exactly.
Yeah, it's very interesting,but the core idea of using this
time for personal growth, that'ssomething we can all use.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Totally.
It's like hitting the resetbutton before the new year.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I like that.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
But with more
intention.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Right, yeah, and
speaking of intention, yes.
Let's talk about those journalprompts you mentioned.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yes, so I was looking
at the ones from Lestallion.
Speaker 1 (01:59):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
And they make these
gorgeous leather journals.
But I was really interested inthe prompts.
They're very specific.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Yeah, specificity is
so important with journaling.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
It is.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
It helps you go
beyond those like really generic
surface level answers.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Totally.
It's like the differencebetween saying I'm grateful for
my family and naming a specificquality you admire in each
person.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Exactly, and
Lestallion seems to get that.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Yeah, they have
prompts for everything.
They do self-reflection,gratitude, spiritual growth,
even family dynamics.
I love that they have such agood range of categories,
because then you can personalizethe experience.
You really can, based on whatyou need.
Speaker 1 (02:37):
Yeah, Although I have
to admit some of those prompts
are kind of intense.
Like what Like one of them isreflect on a time you felt
distant from your faith.
Like whoa.
That got real really fast, evenfor someone who isn't
particularly religious.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, that one
definitely makes you think about
some challenging emotions andexperiences.
It does, for sure.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
So how do you
recommend approaching these
tougher prompts, because I feellike those could bring up some
unexpected feelings.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, you have to
kind of lean into it, okay.
I mean, that's where the realgrowth happens.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
If Advent
acknowledges that life isn't
always happy and cheerful, rightyou know, it's a time to
embrace it all it's like that,saying the wound is the place
where the light enters you.
Yeah, but sometimes you got toface the wound you do, and
that's where self-compassioncomes in.
Ok, less self-criticism, moreself-compassion.
I like it.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
But how do we
actually apply that to
journaling?
Speaker 2 (03:32):
Hmm.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Especially when it
brings up all these difficult
emotions.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Well, you have to
approach those emotions with
kindness and understanding.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
OK.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Recognizing that
we're all a work in progress.
Right, like you don't need tohave all the answers.
Ok, and it's OK to recognizingthat we're all a work in
progress.
Right, like you don't need tohave all the answers Okay, and
it's okay to just feel yourfeelings.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
It's like giving
yourself the grace you would
give a friend.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Exactly.
That's a great way to put it.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
These listallion
prompts are really making me
think about Advent differently.
It's like a built-inopportunity for self-discovery.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
It is.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
But we're all so busy
.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
We are.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
How do we actually
find the time for this?
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Right.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
With all the holiday
chaos.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It's tough, right, it
really is.
Finding time for anythingduring the holidays is like.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
The hardest.
Yeah, even five minutes feelslike a lot these days.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
I feel that, but
that's the thing.
It doesn't have to be this hugecommitment.
Okay, I like the sound of thatyou know if you spend five
minutes scrolling on your phone.
Oh yeah, Every day.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
What if you journaled
instead?
Okay, yeah, I see where you'regoing with this.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
You know, just
reframe those little bits of
time.
Maybe it's five minutes in themorning before everyone's awake,
or 10 minutes at lunch.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Or even just keeping
a notebook by the bed.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Love that.
Speaker 2 (04:37):
And it doesn't have
to be fancy Like those
Lestallion ones are gorgeous.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
They are stunning,
but I have a regular notebook
that works just fine.
Speaker 2 (04:44):
Right, it's the act
of reflection that matters.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Not the tool you use.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Exactly and honestly.
You could even record voicememos if you wanted to.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh, for sure.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
That feels more
natural to me sometimes.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Whatever works for
you Right, just stick to me
sometimes, whatever works foryou right, just stick with it.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
I also like the idea
of putting those prompts into my
existing routines oh, tell memore about that like maybe
lighting a candle and doing agratitude prompt before dinner.
I love that, or like areflection prompt with my family
after a meal yeah somethinglike that that's brilliant.
Weaving it into your day rightwithout adding anything extra
exactly, and you know what thismakes me think about is the
(05:23):
connection part.
Oh yeah, we haven't reallytalked about that.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
It's not just about
you.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Right, we've been so
focused on the individual side.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
Exactly, advent is
also about connecting with
others.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
Right.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Whether it's
conversations or acts of
kindness or just being morepresent.
Speaker 1 (05:38):
So it's like how, in
the past, advent was observed as
a community.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Exactly, there were
shared rituals and practices.
Huh Interesting and yeah, thecustoms might be different now.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
But we can still have
that togetherness.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
This makes me think
about those tougher prompts
again.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:53):
Like maybe having
support would be really helpful
for that.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Oh, absolutely yeah,
Because remember when we talked
about self-compassion.
Speaker 1 (05:59):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
Sometimes that means
getting support.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
Right, like we don't
have to go through things alone.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
Exactly, but how does
that work with Advent and
journaling, hmm?
You could share a challengingprompt with a friend, okay, or
family member Right and talkabout it with them.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Have a conversation
about it.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Yeah, or even talk to
a therapist if you need to.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
That's a good point.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, it's like
having a thought partner.
Speaker 1 (06:23):
It is.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
To help you
understand.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
Sometimes it helps to
just say it out loud.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
It really does.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
It really is Like
isn't it a problem shared and
all that.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Yeah, but it's more
than that Okay.
It's not about this perfectholiday experience.
It's about being human, withall the messiness.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
And finding
connection in the middle of it
all.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
It's about that light
in the darkness everyone always
talks about.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
It is, and that idea
isn't just an Advent.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
What do you mean?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Lots of cultures have
festivals of light when it's
dark outside.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Oh, you're right,
Like Diwali.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
Exactly Hanukkah,
even the solstice thing.
It's all about finding hopewhen the days are short.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
It's a good reminder
that, even when it's dark,
there's always light somewhere.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
And searching for
that light helps us find our own
light.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
That's a nice thought
, yeah.
So as we wrap up this Advent,deep dive.
Yeah.
What's the one thing you hopelisteners will remember?
Speaker 2 (07:22):
I hope this has
inspired people to think about
Advent differently.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
It doesn't matter if
you follow the religious
traditions or make your own.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Right.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
Or even just use this
time for reflection.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
It's about what feels
right for you.
Speaker 2 (07:35):
Exactly, find what
resonates with you and be
present.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Beautifully said.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:40):
It's really about
finding those gifts that really
matter.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
Self-awareness and
connection and really
understanding ourselves.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
It's powerful stuff.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
And those are the
gifts that last.
Well, thank you so much forjoining me on this Advent deep
dive.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
It was my pleasure.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
We hope you're
feeling inspired to embrace the
season.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Until next time, take
care.