Even If At Times It May Not Always Feel That Way

Christmas Eve has become my day in the year for reflection.

A moment to pause and consider the year almost gone. A day that somehow seems more relevant for me than the new year.

Interestingly, and maybe also a little sadly, such reflection over recent years has frequently been of the challenging kind.

Moving through lock down and isolation to frustration and, at times, what felt like an absence of kindness and empathy.

And, more recently, such moments have also had to process loss and grief.

Looking back over my posts on this day in previous years I have also noted that sometimes it has felt more appropriate to simply say nothing rather than dwell on anything too difficult. Perhaps a decision made through safety or self preservation rather than anything else.

Of course, it's easy to look back and remind yourself of things that went wrong. Things that we maybe regret or wish had never happened. We all do this on a regular basis. Our minds are programmed to identify and focus more on negative feelings and threats rather than positive moments and emotions.

We simply can't help ourselves.

So this year, rather than dwelling on situations that have challenged my resilience, and there have been and continue to be many, it feels right that I should find reason to put my focus elsewhere.

So for balance, and perhaps also as a reminder for myself and anyone else reading this post, I intend to concentrate on the things that really matter.

Thankfully, my loved ones and I are alive and well, with sufficient food and water to sustain us, a roof over our heads and with lives that the majority of people in the world would envy,

We are mostly surrounded by love and kindness and genuine support, even if at times it may not always feel that way.

We also have the time and hopefully the awareness and inclination each morning when we wake up to notice and appreciate the beautiful world that we live in.

And for that, despite all of the challenges that we have had to face this year, we should be genuinely grateful.