Don’t Miss the Glow of the Season: Living the Life Right in Front of You

This week, I found myself feeling like a hamster running on a never-ending wheel. I noticed my body physically moving faster throughout the day, as if I were constantly rushing to the next thing. I could feel my heart beating quicker beneath my pink “Merry” Christmas sweater. My mind felt like a pinball machine, thoughts bouncing in every direction. I was thinking about the gifts that still needed to be wrapped, the bread that needed to be baked, whether I had enough gas to make it to my next stop, the big things coming up in January and February. The list felt endless, and no matter how much I checked off, there was always something else waiting.

Most mornings, when I can, I try to start the day in quiet — right when I wake up, before checking my phone and jumping into the hustle of the day. In December, that looks like sitting in the living room with only the Christmas tree lights glowing, a book resting in my lap, and coffee steaming on the Santa coaster beside me. It’s a small, sacred pocket of calm. And today, in that stillness, I had a moment where all I yearned for was to be present.

To slow my mind. To press pause on thinking about where we’re traveling next week, whether packages will arrive on time, and what the day ahead holds. All I wanted was to be fully where I was in that moment — and to carry that same presence into the moments that follow.

Don’t we all? 

How often do we hear that we’re missing the life right in front of us when we’re constantly thinking about the future? As someone who naturally leans anxious, I know how easy it is to live a few steps ahead of myself. I’ve missed more moments than I’d like to admit simply because my mind was elsewhere. And when you really think about it, there’s a quiet sadness in that.

Yes, there are hard things we walk through — always. But we are also living beautiful lives. Especially this time of year. Lives lit by twinkling lights. Ornaments that hold memories and stories. Hot chocolate with too many marshmallows and far too much whipped cream. Evenings filled with people we love — people we don’t get to see as often as we wish throughout the year. It’s home-cooked meals, laughter echoing through the house, the familiar sound of jingle bells and festive tunes in the background.

And what if we’re missing it all? 

So this season, let’s pause. When you feel your heart speed up and your pace begin to quicken, slow down. Take a deep breath. Make a cup of tea. Spend thirty seconds standing still and looking out the window. Let yourself really breathe in the moment — the things you’re grateful for, the beauty that already exists in your life, right now.

Because that’s what this season is truly about. Not the gifts, the preparation, or checking every social event off the calendar. It’s about noticing the quiet evenings, the soft glow of lights, the laughter of your children or the people gathered around your table.

Be where you are.

Don’t miss this beautiful life unfolding right in front of you.