December is the month of coming together. Of dinners, appointments, lights, gifts, and full calendars. Of warmth and coziness. And at the same time, of stimuli and expectations. That feeling that everything still has to be done “just quickly.” Many people feel surrounded and supported. Others feel alone.
This blog is not here to make December look prettier than it is. It’s here to help you stay truly present. More connected — with yourself and with others. Because December often brings more to the surface than we expect.
When connection comes under pressure
When everything becomes fuller, our system automatically follows. We switch to “on.” We keep overview, organize, take care, and push through. That already asks a lot. What can make December even more intense is that we spend a lot of time with family and loved ones. People who are close. With whom there is history. And with whom expectations and obligations often come along.
That can feel very loving. Sharing meals. Memories. Traditions.
And at the same time, it can rub. The same conversations come up again. Sensitivities around gifts, food, or planning. Busy children. Different needs under one roof.
Before you know it, you’re no longer responding fully from this moment, but from something old that moves along automatically. December makes that visible. And when you can notice what’s happening, you don’t have to lose yourself in it.
Connection is often more physical than we think
In moments like these, explaining rarely helps. Connection doesn’t necessarily arise from the right words, but from how you are present.
Our bodies are constantly tuning in.
Through breath. Through tension.
Through how someone sits next to you.
When you’re mostly in your head, the other person senses it — without words. And when you soften and settle a little, more calm often appears naturally in the space.
That’s why connection doesn’t start with talking, but with landing in yourself.
A simple way to do this is through your breath and attention. Place one hand on your chest. Breathe in calmly through your nose and out through your mouth. Let your exhale naturally become a little slower. Bring your attention to your heart, just to feel that you are here. Then think of something or someone that feels good to you. Something small. Something real. Stay with this for a few minutes.
Staying connected, even when it feels uncomfortable
Real connection isn’t always warm or cozy. Sometimes it’s quiet. Sometimes a bit awkward. Sometimes you feel irritation, distance, or resistance.
In those moments, connection isn’t about harmony, but about staying present. With yourself — by feeling what’s happening inside you, without pushing it away. And with the other — by not hardening or shutting down right away. Connection doesn’t arise because everything flows smoothly, but because you don’t lose yourself.
When connection isn't self-evident
December also amplifies what is already there. Including the absence of closeness when you’re alone. Or the feeling of distance when you are together, yet still feel alone inside.
In those moments, nothing needs to be fixed. The invitation is to stay honest with what is. Without judgment. Without haste. Not as an endpoint, but as a beginning.
Stay gentle with what you feel and don’t turn away from yourself. From there, something soft often emerges — a sense of ground beneath your feet, a moment of calm, self-kindness. And sometimes, unexpectedly, an opening toward connection again. That, too, is connection.
Reishi: settling, balancing, staying
Especially when closeness feels intense, or is missing, a little support can be helpful. And of course, we wouldn’t be Foodsporen without having a mushroom at hand. This month, Reishi is our steady companion.
“If there’s one period when I tend to push harder, drink more coffee, and feel less, it’s December. Reishi invites me to slow down, release tension, and helps me sleep deeply after a day full of stimuli.” — Mart Stoffele, founder of Foodsporen
The Inner December Gift
After making space and allowing yourself small moments along the way, this week invites you into a larger Inner December Gift: not leaving yourself behind.
In December, we’re easily swept along by pace, expectations, and what’s asked of us. The invitation isn’t to do everything differently, but to stay with yourself as you move through it all. That might look like pausing briefly before responding. Noticing where your boundary lies. Not taking everything personally. Staying gentle, especially with yourself. Small, but essential.
What helps are small anchor points. A hand on your chest before stepping inside somewhere. A few calm breaths when you arrive home. A warm drink without a screen. Reishi as a steady moment in your day or evening. Gentle reminders: I am here.
In closing
December asks for better attention. For sensing when slowing down helps. For noticing when connection needs care. You don’t have to do everything right. If you pause now and then, create a bit of space, and feel where you are, that is enough.
To close, we’d like to share a little bit of fungi wisdom:
"Even in solitude, the mycelial network remains. Mushrooms may grow alone, but never disconnected."
Mush love, 🍄
Team Foodsporen