Whether she’s belting out the US national anthem at a presidential inauguration ceremony, shimmying in a sequined bodysuit for fans around the world, or enjoying Christmas with her family in Thailand (while riding an elephant… complete with gold face paint…) Beyoncé doesn’t do anything half-assed.
I don’t know Queen Bey personally, of course (if only!) but it feels pretty obvious that she’s an “ALL IN” kind of woman.
Beyoncé is not here to just “pass the time.” She’s here to LIVE. She loves to travel, share unique experiences with her family, and make memories. She’s not here to whimper along, apologize, or daydream about opportunities that she “might” go after “one day, maybe. She’s here to make her mark on the planet.
As she sings in her gorgeous song, “I Was Here”…
I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time
Know there was something that, meant something that I left behind
When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets
Leave something to remember, so they won’t forget
I was here
I lived, I loved
I was here
I did, I’ve done everything that I wanted
And it was more than I thought it would be
I will leave my mark so everyone will know
I was here
She’s here. She’s alive. She’s ready to live—full out. And so can you!
So what does it mean to “rock Christmas like Beyoncé”?
You don’t necessarily have to slither into a glittery bodysuit—unless you want to!
For me, doin’ the holidays like Queen Bey means doin’ it your way—with no apologies.
It means creating the types of experiences and memories that you crave most.
It means taking the holidays into your own capable hands—creating new traditions and making magical things happen—rather than frumping around feeling mopey, frazzled, or bored.
This holiday season, why not …
: GET OUTTA TOWN
Beyoncé loves to celebrate Xmas in unusual places—like Iceland and Thailand.
Maybe an international voyage doesn’t call to you, this year, but perhaps you’d like to do a quick road trip or a spontaneous flight to a city you’ve never visited before?
Or you could book a staycation in your own city, savor some plush hotel bedding, revel in the festive holiday decorations, and order room service—hello, breakfast in bed!—on Christmas morning. Hotel-mas might become your favorite new holiday tradition!
Check out HotelTonight.com for last minute deals on hotels—or use Kayak Explore to see where in the world you can fly for $200, $300, $400, or whatever your personal budget might be.
: OR STAY HOME…
… But really “be” home. Establish some “holiday policies” so that you and your loved ones can share a special, memorable time together, just like Beyoncé! One year, Beyoncé decided to stay home for the holidays but enforced a firm “no TV” policy so that she and her husband, Jay-Z, could be fully present for one another and share quality time together. Love that.
Also…
One time, at a concert, Beyoncé ordered a fan to “put that damn camera down!” She told her distracted fan, who was taping her performance instead of actually watching it, “See, you can’t even sing because you’re too busy taping. I’m right in your face, baby. You gotta seize this moment!” Beyoncé is SERIOUS about setting down the techie devices! Don’t mess with Ms. Carter-Knowles!
: HONOR YOUR HEROES, MENTORS, AND ELDERS
In her short film, “Yours and Mine,” Beyoncé says: “My mother always taught me to be strong and to never be a victim. Never make excuses. Never expect anyone else to provide for me things I know I can provide for myself.” Beyoncé adores her momma—she praises Mama ‘Yonce in all kinds of interviews, frequently.
When was the last time you called your mom or dad out of the blue, or wrote a letter, just to say, “Thank you for raising me right”?
If your relationship with your folks isn’t so great, you can choose another elder who “feels” like a parent to you—and thank them.
“I love you because…” “I am grateful for you because…” “Thank you for teaching me to always be…”
Instead of mailing out 200 generic holiday cards to distant relatives and colleagues whose names you can barely even remember, write a heartfelt letter to 5 or 6 people who truly matter to you and call it a day. Less is more. Word.
: DO SOME GOOD
Beyoncé is a huge philanthropist. She donates money, of course, but she also donates her time and talents to organizations that matter to her, offering free concerts, autographed fan swag, anything that might help the cause.
Whether you’re earning $15K per year or $15 million, you can always find a way to give back—and what better time to do that than the holidays?
Here’s a zero-cost idea: if you’ve got tons of leftovers after a big holiday feast—and you know there’s no way you’re going to be able to eat everything yourself—portion the leftovers into individual meals using paper plates, Tupperware, or tinfoil and donate the meals to a homeless shelter. My girlfriend did this recently, bringing warm pear strudel and other leftover goodies to a local shelter. The folks at the shelter were so grateful.
You never know: your small act of kindness might give someone the hope and courage that they need to apply for a job, or reach out for counseling, and get back on their feet.
Another neat idea: gather together some toys, blankets, or clothes that you no longer need and schedule a donation pick up. A volunteer will come to your doorstep to grab everything and take it families in need. You can be a generous donor and really help someone out—and you don’t even have to get out of your robe and slippers! Bonus!
: INDULGE…
… in your favorite holiday foods, of course (Beyoncé loves fried chicken and waffles, and she even treats herself to the occasional cigar!) but remember that “indulging” doesn’t always have to involve eating, drinking, or, uh, smoking a fat Cuban stogie.
There are so many non-food-related indulgences that you can savor, too.
You could indulge by… taking a steamy peppermint-scented bubble bath, snuggling with your kids all morning long, reading a salacious book, hitting the spa, treating yourself to a haircut or blowout, setting up a play date with a girlfriend or two, hiking, strolling down a street filled with twinkly holiday lights, streaming your favorite music all evening long, or you can indulge simply by allowing yourself to SLEEP IN for once! (No alarm clock! Hallelujah! Pajamas forever. Beyoncé approves.)
How are you gonna rock Christmas like Beyoncé?
What do you crave most? What kinds of experiences are you yearning for?
Don’t wait for those experiences to fall into your lap. Go get ‘em. Create what you crave.
As Bey said once, “Enjoy your life. It’s short.”
That’s the truth, sugarplum.
Create the holiday season that you crave, whatever that looks like for you… whether it’s bombastic, electrifying and glitter-loaded or a super chilled-out pajama party with cocoa and prezzies in bed.
It’s your life. Enjoy the ride!
P.S. Have you grabbed your copy of Merry & Bright, my new holiday magazine? No? Sign up to get yours here!
