As I sit here, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights dancing against the walls and the embers of the fire whispering their final few crackles, I’m struck by the silence. It’s a serene, blissful kind of quiet—the kind you only get after the storm of the “Big Day” has passed.

What a difference a year makes. If last year was a dull ache, this year is a vibrant 360-degree turn. I’m looking at the same ornaments, but through entirely different eyes.

The Chaos and the “Curation”

Let’s be honest: the last week was a marathon. Between the carols, the Christingle glow, the solemnity of midnight mass, and the frantic, last-minute shopping, I’ve been running on festive adrenaline and prayer.

​And can we talk about shopping? I find it nearly impossible to buy for others. It’s not that I’m ungenerous; it’s just that I have such impeccable taste that I want everything I see! Every time I picked up a gift, a little voice in my head whispered, “You know who would love this? Me. I would love this.” It’s a daily struggle to remember that “to give is better than to receive” when there are so many cute things in the world.

The Silence of the Scroll

Looking back on this year’s chapters, my biggest triumph wasn’t a professional accolade or a grand event. It was the “Big Delete.” Taking a break from social media cut differently for my mindset. It turns out that when you stop watching everyone else’s highlight reels, you start actually living your own movie.

​I’ve spent the year transitioning. I’m finding my voice—learning to be a lioness rather than a mouse. I’m stronger-minded and more focused, but equally humbled by how much I still have to learn.

The Call of the World

​Last year, I wanted to disappear. I switched off the world, pulled up the drawbridge, and sat in the dark. This year, my phone has been buzzing with gentle reminders that I am seen and loved.

​Instead of retreating, I’ve found the world calling to me, and for the first time in a long time, I’m actually picking up. I’ve been enveloped by a kindness that has reminded me of the most important lesson of the season: being a “presence” is far more valuable than giving a “present.”

A Walk in the Stillness

​I took a walk to the cemetery today. Amidst the tinsel and the turkey, it’s important to pay respects to the ones who aren’t sitting by our fires anymore. It’s a grounding, subtle reminder to keep living—to really live—while we have the chance.

​There is still no “Mr. Birdie” on the horizon, but you know what? I’m perfectly happy with that. There is a certain, beautiful power in uncaged freedom. I’m not waiting for someone to complete my story; I’m too busy writing the best chapters myself.

​Closing the Page

​As I prepare to turn the page on this year, I’m not carrying a heavy heart. I’m carrying a grateful one. Grateful for the lessons, grateful for the growth, but mostly, just grateful for the simple, profound fact of being alive.

​The fire is low, the house is still, and for the first time in a long time, I am exactly where I need to be.

Sending you all a Merry Christmas,

❤️~ Jen x