The Magic of the Festive Season: A Year of Gratitude

There’s something undeniably exciting and joyous about the festive season. I used to love this period, filled with Christmas window displays and summer days by the beach. Even when I was a self proclaimed workaholic who rarely used my Annual Leave during this time, the time between Christmas and the New Years were my favourite. Good mood just seems to permeate the air. All my past memories of this time feel light and bright.

I still feel a lot of uncertainty and anxiety at the year to come. So instead of allowing my energy to flow there, I’m choosing to lean into the gratitude for the past year and optimism for the future we all have to look forward to.

This year, the festive season feels even more profound. As I sit here reflecting, it’s hard to believe just how much can change in the span of 12 months. It’s a reminder that things can change quickly, even if it feels slow at the time. Only a year ago, I was recovering from tumour removal surgery, feeling the uncertainty of my health and lost in my career. At that time, I could never have imagined that this Christmas would look so different.

This year, we’re celebrating the season with a new family member and a puppy. It’s a scene I still can’t quite believe I get to write. Becoming a mom has brought its own set of challenges and joys, but above all, it has deepened my gratitude. There’s something about suddenly being responsible for someone else that motivates me to try harder next year. I also love seeing the world through my child’s eyes—the wonder at the smallest things. We feel joy at milestones like when he lifts his own head and when he is mesmerised by his own hands. He reminds us how much beauty there is in simplicity. How much worth there is in existing and being.

The festive season has always been about family for me, but this year it carries an even deeper meaning. It’s about taking stock of how far we’ve come, as individuals and as a family, and holding onto that gratitude for the year to come.

A year ago, I wasn’t sure what the future would hold. I didn’t know if I’d be able to get back into the gym and continue hitting my strength goals or that I’d facilitate over 40 breath-work and meditation classes in person and online. I didn’t know I’d decide to go back into a Masters course, write for fun, or have a kid. But here I am, having done all of those things.

The magic of the festive season isn’t in the gifts or the glitter—it’s in the moments that become memories, the people we love, and the resilience that carries us through the hard times to arrive at this hopeful place.

So, wherever you are, whatever you’re going through, wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Holiday season. Even when the world feels dark and there are times we can feel stuck, know that the universe is conspiring to make your dreams come true. Every day that you show up, things are evolving and changing. We must be grateful for the blessings we have and hold on to our loved ones tight. Here’s to the year ahead, full of possibilities we can’t yet imagine.