This time of year often comes with a pre-defined set of expectations — a ready-made image of how things are supposed to look and feel for the holiday magic to happen. But at times, for whatever reasons, life doesn’t quite match that picture.
Years ago, when I was living alone in a new town in an almost empty flat, I didn’t have a Christmas tree, and I didn’t have spare money to buy one. But I did want to have a party.
So I used what I had. A tall wooden ladder became the tree. I dressed it with my handmade scarves and a few pieces of my boho crochet jewelry. My plush toys were my precious, cheerful, quiet company.
What stays with me from that moment is not the memory of how lacking and lonely I felt in those days, but a gentle shift that night unxpectedly created. When my attention moved away from what I lacked and toward what was already there, the whole vibe changed. This wasn’t settling for less — but a feeling of agency, a choice that was entirely mine.
As the year comes to a close, I want to wish you moments of comfort and joy, shaped on your own terms. However you move through this season, may you feel at home, feel you have enough, feel you are enough, even if things don’t match what you see on Christmas cards or everyone’s posts on social media. I hope you step into the new year with peace, harmony, and a feeling of grounded abundance.
How are you spending this magical part of the year?
Show me your trees in the comments!