LETTER
An October Summary from Fearless She Wrote
Monthly Newsletter, November 6, 2019
Happy November!
Is it just us, or is time absolutely flying past? It feels like it was just yesterday that we decided we wanted to start a Fearless newsletter — and yet — we’re on our third month of it!
The holiday season is rapidly approaching — and even those of us who don’t celebrate certain holidays or subscribe to any particular religions can find ourselves swept up in all the activities and festivities.
While this is exciting for some, it can be an incredibly stressful time for many — the familial obligations (or lack thereof) can bring past traumas and hurts to the forefront. We want to remind all of our readers and writers to be gentle with yourselves during this time — you’re doing your best! — and if you can, make sure to find some time for self-care.
We’ve done some research on holiday season “best practices” for self-care, and want to share with you our favorite tips!
#1 — Schedule time for yourself and the activities you enjoy.
This looks different for everyone, but it’s easy to lose yourself during this time of year. Make sure you’re taking time to exercise, meditate, eat right, read, do yoga, or enjoy a bath! While you’re busy taking care of everyone else, remember that you’re also worth caring for.
#2 — Feel your feelings.
Families, friends, gift-giving, too many plans, too few plans — these are just some of the stressors that this season brings. And, that’s okay! Allow yourself to sit with your feelings. Acknowledge them; think about them and recognize them. Don’t be afraid to call “time-out” for yourself when you need to so that you can realign.
#3 — Remind yourself of the good.
What are you feeling grateful for this holiday season? Just thinking about gratitude for the things in your life increases the level of serotonin and builds positive pathways in your brain.
#4 — Sleep.
Poor sleep messes with our emotional health all year long — but when emotions and stressors are running on high, it’s even more essential to safeguard your well-being as best you can. Entering each day with hours of sleep under your belt ensures that you have a better shot at combatting any stresses thrown in your direction.
#5 — Be present.
Be present as you’re giving presents. The holiday season stands apart from the rest of the year due to the sights, sounds, and activities that are unique to this time of year. Allow yourself to slow down, feel them, notice them. You’ll be happier looking back and remembering the lights you saw walking down the street than you will be thinking “the holidays were such a blur; I was so busy.”
Resources:
As for us, we’re grateful to, and for, all of you.

In case you missed it! (October 2019)
Why Do Men Tell Me to Smile? My Face Is Not Their Concern, by Karen Banes
I Lost my Virginity at Age Twelve, by Alexandra Tsuneta
Fear of Writing & Talking About Sex, by Kaylee Brayne
My First Blow Job was Rape — Why Didn’t I Know? by Holly Bradshaw
My First Blow Job was Rape — Why Didn’t I Know?
I stayed with a master manipulator for years
medium.co
I’m Not Out to Everyone, by Faith Anne
Meet the Editor
This month we’re featuring our editor, Maggie Lupin!

Maggie writes for a number of publications on Medium and contributes to a book review blog outside of Medium.
By day, she’s a first-year counselor at a university and prefers the company of her two goofy rescue pets to the company of most people.
We’re happy to feature Maggie’s article, The Strange Dichotomy of Being a Woman.

