A soft, reflective post written during the busy Thanksgiving-to-Advent weekend, inviting readers to pause, reconnect with their values, and gently consider the year ahead without pressure or perfection.
Birthday Weekend Reflection
My birthday always falls in that conspicuous, crowded stretch of the year—the in-between space of Thanksgiving, Black Friday/Cyber Monday, and the beginning of Advent. It’s a beautiful season, but also a noisy one, and my birthday can easily get swallowed up by everything else happening around it.
But I’ve noticed this isn’t just about birthdays.
The same thing happens with our end-of-year reflections. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s can feel like a blur of obligations, gatherings, sales, deadlines, and expectations—and before we know it, January arrives and we step into a fresh year without a sense of grounding, intention, or direction.
I don’t think we need to have a fully formed plan right now. Honestly, the pressure to map out a “picture-perfect” vision for the next year can be its own kind of distraction—and that’s something I want to explore more soon.
But maybe, in these quieter pockets—after the leftovers are put away, after the hustle settles for a moment—we can take a breath and gently turn inward.
Not to strategize.
Not to force clarity.
Just to notice.
What values are asking for more space in your life?
What qualities do you want to cultivate in yourself?
What threads have been tugging at your attention lately, inviting you toward growth?
This weekend, I’m giving myself permission to reflect in simple ways—no pressure, no timeline. Maybe you might join me. Just a soft check-in with your own heart before the year slips into its final chapter.
-Laura