December Reflection: Finding Gratitude and Joy as the Year Ends

As the year winds down, I’ve been thinking a lot about reflection and gratitude. This month, I want to shift gently into something lighter, grounding, and hopeful. December feels like the perfect time to slow down and look back at how far we’ve come — even in a world that seems to move faster and with less certainty than ever.

Since 2020, life has been moving at a pace that feels both unexpected and relentless. One moment we were all home, sheltering in place, and now that chapter feels like a distant blur. We’ve been pushed back into the hustle and grind faster than ever. It’s rare to find a moment to sit, breathe, and truly reflect — and with everything shifting so quickly, it’s no wonder it can feel like the ground is constantly moving beneath us.

And yet… even through all that uncertainty, joy still finds a way in.

This year, I’ve been choosing to notice the small, simple things that bring me gratitude — the moments easy to overlook when life gets loud. I wake up every morning. My children are healthy. There’s a roof over our heads and food in the fridge, especially on cold days like today. Focusing on these everyday blessings makes the world feel a little warmer, a little more manageable.

Then there are the bigger things — the people in my life who keep me accountable and help me grow. They challenge me, uplift me, and hold me to a standard I strive toward every day. I am deeply grateful for them — my small, supportive village.

But this post isn’t just about my gratitude list.
It’s an invitation for your reflection.

What made you grateful this year?
What moments — big or small — brought you joy, comfort, clarity, or laughter?
Maybe it was a new opportunity. Maybe it was healing. Maybe it was simply making it through a year that wasn’t always easy.

Life throws all of us curveballs, but remembering what we’re grateful for helps anchor us when things get tough.

I’ve already shared what I’m grateful for — now it’s your turn.
Ready… Set… Go!

Drop a comment, message me, or quietly reflect on it for yourself. Share what made you grateful this year — big or small. Take a moment today to name what brought you joy. You might be surprised by what rises to the surface.

In my next post, we’ll continue this theme of gratitude and self reflection. But this will be with a simple meaningful assignment anyone can do, no matter how busy life feels. 

You won’t need anything fancy; just a few quiet minutes.

Get ready — it’s a grounding way to close out 2025 with intention.