Tis the season

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Since I was a little girl, my family never celebrated Christmas. But despite that, I’ve always felt the magic of this season. There’s something about the holidays that makes the world feel softer, warmer, even in the dead of winter. Especially for the little ones, the way their excitement builds on Christmas Eve, the anticipation of waking up early, unwrapping presents in their pyjamas, the sound of laughter filling the room. But beyond the gifts and the traditions, it’s the togetherness that makes this time so special.

For my family, even though we didn’t celebrate in the traditional sense, we still used the day as an opportunity to be together. I think that’s why I never felt left out of the holiday spirit, because at its core, this time of year is about family.

I remember my early years living in Quebec, sitting at my grandmother’s dining table, surrounded by my many cousins, aunts, and uncles. The smell of her home-cooked meals filling the air, the sound of conversations and laughter bouncing off the walls. Time felt slower then, like we had all the hours in the world to just be together.

Now, life moves fast. Too fast. My little cousins are now grown, with families of their own, splitting their time between us and their in-laws. My friends, once carefree and untethered, now bounce from one family gathering to another, trying to soak up all the love they can. And that’s what this season is about, isn’t it? Not the presents or the material things, but the love. Because life gets busy, and we don’t always get to see the people who matter most. But on this day, we get to pause. We get to breathe and just be with the ones who make our hearts feel full.

Today, I took my family for a walk (by family, I mean my dog, who truly believes he’s the boss of me). We walked by the lake, and I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude just watching all the different forms of love around me. Parents playing with their kids at the park. Couples strolling hand in hand. Friends going for a run, escaping the chaos of life for just a little while. Dads carrying their children on their shoulders, their little hands gripping tightly. And me, being dragged through piles of snow covered leaves by my overexcited dog, who has no idea how strong he is.

That’s the true meaning of life, isn’t it? Love.

From the moment we are born, our lives are shaped by the love we receive. Our parents, our siblings, our friends who become family. And as we grow, the dream for so many of us is to build a family of our own. To expand the love we were given. God gave up His only son for us, because we are his family. And that’s why, no matter where we come from or what we believe in, most of the world shares this one special day to celebrate the same thing, family.

It’s been so heartwarming to watch the families around me grow. Friends getting engaged, expecting their first babies. People I once stayed out late partying with now raising beautiful little families of their own. And honestly? Thank God those wild nights are over. I’d take family over partying any day. Wow, I really am getting old.

But for many, this time of year isn’t easy. Some of us are missing people, people who made this season feel magical, who once filled the room with their laughter, who we would give anything to have back, even just for a moment.

For my family, it’s my grandmother. Her bright red hair. Her infectious laugh. The way she made the best breaded fish cutlets. How she always confused my cousin Natasha and me on the phone, though, to be fair, my middle name is Tasha, so I’ll cut her some slack. Her love for birds. The grapevine in her backyard. The round swimming pool she got just for her grandkids. The moo moo nightgowns she wore around the house. The way she trapped my cousins and me under the covers, farted, and laughed so hard she cried. I miss her. I know my whole family does.

But that’s what this time is about, to appreciate and remember the love we have in this life, even if some of the people we love are no longer here.

Life moves so fast. Too fast. And sometimes, we get so caught up in it, our jobs, our bills, our worries, our egos, that we forget what really matters. Love. Always love.

I try to use the new year as a time to reflect, to recognize the things I want to change about myself. And I say try, because let’s be honest, self-improvement is hard. We all fall short sometimes. But that’s part of being human, isn’t it? The effort. The trying.

And with only six days left in 2018, I want to say this: I hope this new year brings you love. So much love. I hope we all learn to let go of the negativity we’ve been holding onto. I hope we stop dwelling on the bad and hold onto the good. I hope we appreciate the people in our lives a little more each day. I hope we forgive, not just others, but ourselves. Because none of us are perfect. And being human is hard.

I hope that the ones searching for love find it. I hope that the ones dreaming of marriage get the kind of love story they deserve. I hope that the ones longing for children get to hold their little miracles in their arms. I hope that those who have lost someone know that love doesn’t die. The memories, the moments, the impact they left on us—it all stays. Forever.

And more than anything, I hope that no matter where life takes us, we are always surrounded by love. Because at the end of the day, that’s all that truly matters.

Peace, Love & Happy Holidays everyone xoxo