Getting Through the Holidays with Grace: Personal Reflections on Starting Over

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The holidays always seem to bring everything to the surface. The twinkling lights and cheerful music can sometimes feel like a sharp contrast to what’s going on inside. For me, this time of year has often been a season of reckoning—a chance to take stock of where I am and where I want to go. Some years, it’s felt joyful and full of promise. Other years, like now, it feels like I’m starting over, grappling with questions of purpose and how to move forward.

If you’re also navigating uncharted waters this holiday season, let’s take a moment together to reflect and reset. Here’s what I’ve learned about finding grace in the messy process of starting over.

Acknowledging the Messy Bits

This year has been a mix of heartbreak and hope. And while it’s tempting to try and push the tough emotions aside, I’ve realized the only way to move forward is to sit with them for a while. It’s okay to admit that things aren’t perfect. Sometimes, naming the struggles—out loud or in the quiet pages of a journal—can help lighten the load just a little.

There’s something oddly comforting about knowing that so many of us are facing challenges, especially during the holidays. While our struggles might look different, there’s a shared understanding that life isn’t always wrapped up with a bow. And that’s okay.

Drawing the Line

The holidays are infamous for their endless demands. This year, I’m giving myself permission to step back from the things that don’t serve me. Instead, I’m focusing on the things that bring comfort and peace, even if it means creating new traditions or spending some quiet time alone.

I’ve learned that saying “no” isn’t selfish; it’s an act of self-preservation. And when I show up for myself, I’m better able to show up authentically for others.

Gratitude, Even in the Hard Moments

One thing that has helped me is leaning into gratitude, even when it feels hard. It’s not about pretending everything is fine, but about noticing the little things that anchor me—the warmth of a good cup of coffee, a good book, the way the sun filters through the window on a cold morning.

Gratitude has a way of shifting my perspective, even on the toughest days. It’s a reminder that, while some things feel like they’re falling apart, there are still moments of beauty to hold onto.

Asking the Big Questions

The end of the year always feels like a natural time to pause and reflect. I’ve been asking myself a lot of questions lately: What really matters to me? What brings me joy? What kinds of growth will happen in the year ahead?

Sometimes, the answers come quickly. Other times, they feel elusive. And that’s okay too. Purpose isn’t something we discover overnight. It’s something we uncover gradually, like piecing together a puzzle.

Starting Small

When life feels overwhelming, I’ve found that the best way forward is to start small. Some days, it’s as simple as doing something creative or learning something new.

These small steps remind me that I don’t need to have everything figured out all at once. Sometimes, just showing up and doing the next right thing is enough.

Embracing the Blank Slate

Starting over can feel overwhelming, but it’s also an opportunity. It’s a chance to let go of the things that no longer serve us and imagine a new way forward. I’ve been reminding myself that I don’t have to have all the answers right now. The important thing is to keep moving, to stay curious, and to remain open to what’s ahead.

Trusting the Process

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that grace isn’t about getting everything right. It’s about showing up, even when things feel messy and uncertain. It’s about trusting that this season of change is part of a larger story—one that’s still unfolding.

So this holiday season, I’m choosing to hold space for both the hard and the hopeful. I’m giving myself permission to start fresh, to dream again, and to embrace the journey, wherever it may lead.

If you’re also finding your way, know this: You’re not alone. And while the path might be unclear, there’s beauty in the searching. Together, let’s step into this new chapter with courage, compassion, and grace.

Transitions – Some Thinky Thoughts

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Life is full of transitions—some chosen, some thrust upon us. Moving is one of those transitions that encapsulates both. It’s a physical act, yes, but it’s also an emotional excavation, a reshuffling of memories, a reordering of priorities. Recently, I moved. And in doing so, I realized that moving is not just about boxes and furniture; it’s about what we carry with us—and what we leave behind.

The Ceremony of Sorting

There’s something strangely ceremonial about sorting through your life, piece by piece. Each item becomes a decision: does this come with me, or does it stay? It’s in this sorting that you’re confronted with the weight of the past, the whispers of who you once were, and the life you’ve built since. For me, this process was intertwined with the recent loss of my father, a man who, in many ways, I had already lost years ago to dementia.

The Slow Goodbye

Dementia is a cruel thief. It steals in increments, chipping away at the essence of a person until all that’s left is a shell. By the time my father passed, the man who had been my dad had long since faded. His body remained, but his spirit was like a distant echo. When the time came to say goodbye, I found that I had been grieving him for years already.

Letting Go and Moving On

So, as I packed and sorted during this move, I found myself reflecting on what it means to let go—not just of things, but of people, places, and the versions of ourselves tied to them. There were the keepsakes I had saved without really knowing why. And there was the realization that moving on doesn’t mean forgetting; it means finding a way to carry the essence of someone forward, even as you let go of the rest.

Parting Ways

This move also marked the end of a long-term housemate relationship, a bond that had shaped so much of my daily life. Living with someone for years creates its own lore—shared adventures, inside jokes, the rhythm of sharing space that’s both comforting and, at times, challenging. Deciding to part ways wasn’t easy. It felt like packing up not just belongings, but a chapter of shared experiences, and time passing. The decision was necessary, yet it carried the bittersweet weight of endings.

The Deliberate Nature of Moving

Moving—like grief, like life—isn’t linear. It’s messy, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming. There were moments when I sat on the floor surrounded by boxes, paralyzed by the enormity of it all. But there were also moments of clarity, of lightness, when I felt like I was shedding old skin and stepping into something new.

The thing about moving is that it forces you to be deliberate. You can’t take everything. And maybe that’s a good thing. It’s a chance to start fresh, to reimagine what you want your life to look like. As I settle into this new space, I’m trying to hold onto that mindset. It’s not just about where I’m living; it’s about how I’m living.

Lessons from Loss

My dad’s death, like his life, has shaped me in ways I’m still coming to understand. Losing him twice—first to dementia, then to death—has taught me the importance of presence, of savoring the moments we have while we have them. It’s also taught me that letting go doesn’t mean losing; it means making room for something new.

A New Chapter

So here I am, in this new space, with fewer things but a heart full of memories and lessons. I’ve moved, and I’m moving on.

Life is full of transitions. This is mine. And for the first time in a long time, I feel ready.

At the Crossroads of Change: A New Beginning

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When, in the course of human events, we find ourselves standing at the crossroads of who we were and who we are becoming, life beckons us to rise with courage. These moments, often daunting and uncertain, mark the thresholds where transformation begins. It’s not merely about leaving the past behind—it’s about stepping forward with hope, vision, and an unshakable belief in what could be.

Embracing the Unknown

Change is rarely comfortable. It asks us to relinquish the familiar—the routines, identities, and even relationships that have defined us.

But what if this act of letting go isn’t a loss? What if, instead, it’s an act of faith in our capacity to create something better?

To walk away from what no longer serves us requires bravery.

It means trusting that the void left behind will be filled with purpose, growth, and fulfillment.

The ashes of what once was are not remnants of failure but the fertile ground from which new beginnings spring.

A Testament to Resilience

History is filled with stories of individuals and societies who have rebuilt from ruins.

These moments are not marked by despair but by an unyielding determination to rise again.

When we choose to evolve, we are declaring our resilience—not just to survive but to thrive.

Whether it’s starting over in a new career, reimagining a relationship, or redefining personal goals, every decision to pivot is a testament to our strength. It says, “I am willing to become more, even if the path is unclear.”

Building from the Ashes

Rebirth often feels like chaos before it becomes clarity.

There’s a discomfort in dismantling the scaffolding of who we were, but in doing so, we make room for authenticity.

From the ashes, we are free to design a life aligned with our highest values.

It’s not about erasing the past—it’s about honoring it while choosing to grow beyond it.

Every step forward becomes a declaration of hope, a commitment to becoming the best version of ourselves.

Answering the Call

The call to courage is universal. It touches us all, urging us to face our fears, confront our doubts, and step boldly into the unknown.

And while the journey is uniquely ours, we are never truly alone. Others have walked this path before, leaving behind lessons and inspiration to guide us.

As we stand at these crossroads, let us remember: Change is not the end. It is the beginning of everything we are capable of becoming.

If you’ve recently found yourself at a crossroads, know that it’s not by accident. The universe is inviting you to grow. What will you choose to build from the ashes of what once was?

Share your thoughts in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you’re answering your call to courage.