The Feral Housewife's Guide to

Living Authentically, Creatively, & Intentionally

Issue #97 || December 5, 2025 || Previous issues​

Hey Reader,

Everyone is hiding.

Have you noticed?

Are you hiding?

I am (at least I want to).

The simplest explanation for everyone's behavior lately (but by no means the only one) is that we're naturally following the season. Think about it. It's winter (at least in NY) and almost everything is going to sleep. Trees, flowers, and even some animals, and that's by design.

It gets dark early. Why does 4:30 feel like 9:30? (Or is that telling of my age?😂).

It's cold. It's snowy, or icy, depending on where you live.

The colors are muted.

What do you gather from all that info?

You're not lazy

If you're feeling kind of sluggish these days, don't blame yourself.

Blame the season.

Winter is a time of slowing down, reflection, and allowing things to rest so that you'll be refreshed and energized come spring.

Why do we fight this?

Why do we think if we just keep trudging along at a steady pace we'll win the race?

Actually, we're not even in a race. We're in a marathon and that's a different kind of race. There's no rushing to the finish line. It's a game of endurance. And in order to have endurance, you need to shift with what your body needs.

If you're thirsty, you drink water.

If you're tired, you rest. Getting sleep is even better.

If you're hungry, you eat.

If you're mentally exhausted, you let your mind wander. You stop fixing things. You just let things be.

If you're burnt out, you slow down, say NO to everything and everyone, and let yourself rest.

Listen, I KNOW what culture is telling us.

I SEE older ones going strong, sometimes stronger than the next generation. I watch my dad work nonstop while I'm taking breaks 🤭.

But here's the thing, our generations (I'm 50) are built differently—and that's OK. We may or may not live longer than previous generations, but either way, we're likely dealing with more chronic disease and illness.

We're navigating more chronic stress, more processed food, more stimulation, and we need different things.

Life used to be different. If you'd like a glimpse of that, read one of the Little House on the Prairie books and you'll see a stark contrast.

I'm not saying I want to go back to those days, I ain't as tough as that. But their way of life was clean and wholesome. They grew their own food. They went to bed when it was dark. Life was hard but simple. They didn't need to worry about exercising because LIFE was all about MOVEMENT. Plus, they needed each other to survive. Both family and community.

Journaling prompts for the weekend

One small change is better than none.

I'm not saying to go and upend your life. Real change sometimes happens abruptly but that can be shocking to the nervous system.

We're aiming for slow reflection, intention, and courageous action.

If you had to let go of one thing in your day to slow down and rest, what would it be?

What does your body need right now? How can you tell?

At the end of each day, do you reflect on your day?

What worked? What drained you? Did you do something that brought you joy that you'd like to do more of?

Try listening to your body this weekend and let me know what you come up with.

I'm paring down to the bare minimum.

I'm saying no to invites, to extra housework, to being out of the house unless I really need to.

I'm saying yes to slow mornings, to sitting by the fire with tea (when my son lets me have the chair), and yes to journaling.

What about you?

I'm listening...

With Love, Creativity, & Intention,

Anna

P.S. If you know someone needing to slow down, send this to them.

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​www.aferalhousewife.com​

​https://linktr.ee/aferalhousewife​

​ I'm Anna—a recovering perfectionist, sassy housewife, and therapeutic journaling coach helping overwhelmed women ditch the guilt, drop the "do it all" myth, and figure out who they are underneath all the roles. What you think and how you feel influences everything—and most of us have been on autopilot ignoring both for way too long. Write. Feel. Heal. Anna Celotto Writer & Integrative Mind-Body Coach