The Blessings & Depths of December

Here is the second article I had published this month. I hope that you enjoy it and that a piece of it finds a way to resonate with you:


When I hear of daylight savings, images of bright, crisp skylines are evoked with a promise of light and uplifting mornings. Then, without any pomp or circumstance, I soon realize that the darkness of the season has descended upon us and no amount of daylight savings time will save me from the darkness that blankets us during the fall and winter.

Because we depend on mother nature's natural light to keep us moving and motivated, it is no wonder that so many people fear the depths of December. Many of us already have a deep seeded regret of having to wake up in the dark and having to come home from work in the dark. In the past we have grown to expect the days to be long and short in all of the wrong ways.

What I have learned however, is that the darkness also brings blessings of its own. Where December can be quite a busy month, filled with places to go, people to see, things to buy, it also brings with it and invitation to reinvest in ourselves. I know for myself, that with each early sunset that is bestowed upon us in the autumn, I am more inclined to cocoon myself in my home and to nurture the pieces of me that are easily stretched too far and thin at this time of year.

It is as if, I focus inward and hit the 'rejuvenate' button, and I simply let the darkness of the season envelope me. I take it on as a warm hug that is allowing me to slow down, and to reenergize myself when I am not out in the world being something to someone else. I accept the depths of December to mean, that at I am allowing myself to dig deep and to being open to receive the gifts of rejuvenation prior to welcoming a new year. By preparing for the new year, and being emotionally, physically and spiritually balanced when it arrives, I am announcing to the universe that I am open and ready for all of the goodness it has coming my way.


If we do not take care of ourselves during this time of darkness, the time before the light returns, we will not be readily available to welcome all of the blessings that await us. Instead, we could still be trying to navigate our way out of a blinding sea of darkness. Perspective is a gift unto itself. If we can reframe what the darkness of autumn means to us, we can set ourselves up for a much healthier season. We set ourselves up to be successful during a time when so many of us feel like we are unable to keep up with the hectic pace that often accompanies this season.


My wish for you is to reclaim the depths of December and release what you thought you know about it.

Rejuvenate. Redefine. Reframe.Reclaim. Release.

Happy Reframing!


love & light,

t. xo

Merry Christmas… Or is it? You decide...

I have spent the past half hour looking out my front window, watching the first snow of the season, falling.

There is a quiet calm in the street, but there is an underlying excitement from the people walking by. 

There is a magic that belongs to the first snowfall. It represents that the next season is officially upon us, and it means that Christmas is not far away.

I have mentioned it before and will again, this time of year is not merry for all. For some it is a dreaded time of year filled with mixed memories. There was a time when I understood that heavy heartedness, but I would have to say that I remember the day that I made a choice. 

I was 18 years old when I was alone on Christmas morning. I spent breakfast at the Sylvia Hotel with two fellow Christmas orphans, and then we drove around all day in a limo, watching families walking by and enjoying one another. It was then it dawned on me, that my joy is where I find it. Christmas is about that feeling you get when you feel seen, heard & and that you matter. In that moment of being 18, being with Lisa Morrow and Geoffrey Last, I was in my joy. It wasn't what others counted as a traditional Christmas, but it was myChristmas and it brought me joy in all that it was, and more so for what it wasn't.

At this time of year, we walk down the street and there is always someone either asking for money,

or requiring extra patience from us. I want to invite you to give them at least, a smile. It costs you 

nothing, but it may give that person the feeling that they were seen, and maybe if you can offer them

a hello, then they get to tell you, and so they get to be heard. It is what the holiday spirit is about.

I have decided that Christmas was the singular, best time of my childhood. It was 4 or 5 days of peace, usually. So I make a point of reliving it every December. I try to invite as many people into my home and to help them feel the spirit, and to enjoy the feeling of warmth and love. It is a romantic idea, I get it, I own it, but I feel that it is my way of sharing the happiest part of myself and that is a gift I give myself.

I try to engage as many Christmas traditions as possible with my children. I want for them

to feel the riches of traditions in a way that will inspire them to take these holiday 

traditions into their own families, one day.

It's true, I send out over 125 Christmas cards. I feel like it is a beautiful and lost tradition

within itself. Everyone wants to feel remembered and missed. It is the one time of year that 

I reach out to those who have touched my heart and lifted my spirit. It is my time to reach

out and say " thank you again, I remember your love. " I believe life is too short to not remember 

those who have warmed your heart along your journey. It is a dying tradition that I will

not give up on. 

Christmas to me is all about Santa, traditions, love &  beautiful ornaments, not about Jesus or Church.

It is a time of year to give continued thanks for the blessings that have found us, and to 

hope to be a blessing to others. A blessing to you.

Wishing all of you, the love and light of the season and that it warms your heart.

With love & Light,

t.