Every year, as the holidays approach, we’re surrounded by messages about how to make everything perfect. The perfect table. The perfect menu. The perfect timing. The perfect everything.
And even when we know better, those expectations can settle quietly onto our shoulders. They whisper that a meaningful gathering requires elaborate details, flawless presentation, or a level of effort that leaves us too stressed and tired to enjoy the moment we worked so hard to create.
But here’s the truth: No one we love wants perfection from us. They just want us.
What most of us are longing for, whether we say it out loud or not, is connection. Especially now. We want presence, warmth, and a sense of togetherness that often feels pretty hard to find in this increasingly fractured world.
So maybe this year, we can choose something different.
Let the pressure go. Make room for what matters.
There is a deep kind of happiness that comes from simply gathering without the layers of stress we so often inflict on ourselves during the holidays. When we let go of the pressure to impress, we’re free to create something far more meaningful: a space where people can show up as they are, put their struggles down for an evening, and embrace the magic of gathering.
A gathering full of sparkle
Not the decorative kind (though candlelight never hurts), but the human kind: the sparkle that comes from a room filled with familiar voices, shared stories, big belly laughs, and the feeling of being welcomed.
Happiness radiates.
A gathering rich with texture
Texture is as much tactile as it is emotional. It’s the comforting warmth of a worn wooden serving board, the soft, playful fringe of a table runner, the organic curves of a handmade ceramic dish. These are the small yet grounding details that remind us we’re in a home, not a Pinterest page.
Texture helps us pause and exhale.
A gathering that nourishes
Food is an offering. A love language. A way of saying, “I’m glad you’re here.” But nourishment goes well beyond the meal. It’s the time we give. The conversations that drift into deeper territory. The feeling we give and get when we see, hear, and include each other.
Nourishment creates a kind of fullness that lingers long after the dishes are done.
A gathering that reconnects us
In a world where so much of life happens in our minds and on our screens, there is profound beauty in being physically present with one another - in passing plates, clinking glasses, making each other laugh, and hugging goodbye.
Connection doesn’t require curated perfection. It requires intention, attention, and a willingness to slow down long enough to be together.
So this Thanksgiving, let's give this a try:
Let go of the pressure to pull off a flawless holiday.
Let our home feel like a refuge, not a stage.
Let our table be welcoming, even if it’s mismatched.
Let the menu be heartfelt, even if something burns or runs late.
Let our conversations focus on what we share, not how we differ.
Let's center ourselves on the happiness that comes from gathering, nourishing, and reconnecting.
In the end, what we will remember - and what our guests will remember - isn’t how perfect everything looked. We'll remember how it felt to be together. And that's the real magic of an actually perfect holiday.
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As a small token of my gratitude to you for your friendship and support, please use discount code GATHERING for 15% off your next (or first) purchase from Over Yonder. Expires 11.29.
And if you need help adding some sparkle and texture to your holiday gathering, here's some inspiration...
We love the deep, natural hues and elegant height of these (drip-free!) taper candles from The Floral Society, especially when nestled into some Speckled Clay Candle Holders from Al Centro Cerámica.
Fill the radiant Sculpt Platter with warm Pullman rolls (pro tip: buy from Abby Jane Bakeshop if you're local to Dripping Springs) and pass around the table, ideally with some really good salted butter.
Doing the dishes is almost delightful when you use these colorful, super plush, and exquisitely constructed Boma Litchen Towels from Mungo in South Africa. We especially love their generous size - perfect for drying those for big roasting pans and mashed potato pots!
And if you'll be a guest at someone else's home this holiday season, we have many thoughtful host/hostess gifts that will pretty much guarantee another invitation next year. Like these fun Merino Wool Felt Round Wine Markers, or a scented candle from Sydney Hale. Over Yonder Gift Cards are also a great option, and they never expire.
