Reclaiming the Light – A Call for Love, Courage and Connection this Holiday Season

I’ve noticed a lack of lustre like never before this holiday season—a dimming of the usual glow cast under the shadow of a tumultuous political backdrop and financial challenges. The lights are still there, twinkling in windows and strung across trees, but they seem veiled by the weight of our collective unrest.

Growing up, Christmas meant something different. It wasn’t about frantic consumerism or the endless race for the “perfect gift.” It was about St. Nicholas—a man who gave chocolate coins symbolic of tossing gold through a poor family’s window, candy canes, reminiscent of the Bishop’s staff and citrus, as a nod to the gold, all in the spirit of humanity. It was simpler, kinder, and full of heart. Maybe the struggles we face now—globally and individually  – are asking us to return to that. A season of genuine connection, generosity, and reflection.

I think of my childhood, where we left doors unlocked and played outside until the streetlights came on, and the world felt safer or perhaps less consumed by fear. For Christmas 2024, I want to reclaim the opposite of fear: Love. Not the polished, Hallmark kind, but the deep, courageous Love that challenges us to face our fears. Love that listens and respects opposing views, and chooses harmony over being right. Love that says, “I’ll support you, but you must also step into your strength.”

This isn’t the kind of Love that enables or pities; it’s the kind that empowers and transforms gardens into flourishing fields. It’s the Love our planet has been parched for, the Love that could turn today’s upheaval into tomorrow’s possibility for our children and grandchildren.

The truth is, no one has the power to diminish our essence unless we permit them. As we navigate this season, let’s give ourselves permission instead to rise above the fear and reach daily for Love—a Love that rebuilds, inspires, and reminds us of what’s possible.

So this Christmas, let your body be the tree—grounded, sturdy, and rooted in nature’s wisdom. Let your soul be the lights, glowing in even the darkest rooms. And let your gentle eyes, smile and open hands be the ornaments, inviting others to share their light with you as you boldly share yours.

To all the brilliant, powerful women reading this, I wish you a holiday season filled with hope, courage, and joy as we step into what many believe is the Age of Aquarius—an age of humanity and new beginnings. Don’t fear the static or the difficulties ahead; sometimes, things must fall apart before they can be rebuilt.

As the last generation of women who grew up without the constant hum of social media, we carry a unique wisdom. We navigated life without screens, forged in-person connections, and learned to negotiate challenges face-to-face. This experience equips us to guide others—those gripped by fear—toward a brighter, more connected future.

May 2025 bless you with abundance, self-awareness, and courage to discover more of your light. In this season of an exceptionally bright star, may we all shine boldly, fearlessly, and with hearts open to the possibilities ahead. Let your light shine endlessly, illuminating a path to a world reimagined—a world richer in kindness, gentler in spirit, and far greater than the one we left behind. If you believe it, then you’ll see it. Together, we’ve got this!

Merry Christmas, ladies and Happy Holidays.