Violet here. I’m writing this weekend so that Mum can enjoy the remainder of our birthday season with some well-deserved rest and relaxation. And with the weather having turned very cold very quickly, I’ll admit I’m also looking forward to the opportunity to snuggle under some blankets, have a hot mug of tea or hot chocolate, and lose myself in a good book for a little while.

It seems to me that this time of year can so easily become hectic rather quickly. All the rushing around to find gifts, promising to attend back-to-back holiday parties, writing cards and posting them in what you hope will be enough time… To manage it all whilst maintaining your own sanity can feel like an impossible task. I find that what truly makes me feel overwhelmed is the sense that I don’t have time to enjoy it all. I wait months to see it all and feel that it passes in the blink of an eye. The twinkling lights strung above the windows. The crisp winter air against my face. The (mostly) controlled slip of my skates against the smooth ice. The hot cider and mulled wine in steaming tureens. The red, running noses and wide, beaming smiles of friends. The thick scarves piled around necks and the gloves that can never quite keep the chill from reaching the fingertips. The lightness of spirit. The pervasive feeling of hope. The sense that all could be well in the world if we only took the time to appreciate all that life has to offer.

So much of life seems to be spent in anticipation of what’s to come. Even in the picture at the top of this newsletter, I was so busy fretting about how soon Mum would be leaving London and when she might come back that I wasn’t fully engaged for the time that I did have to spend with her. I focused too intently on the possibilities of the future and nearly missed the wonderful reality of the present. Now, looking back, I see the day for what it was: many hours passed at the Victoria & Albert Museum, wandering through room after room of stunning art, sculpture, and ironwork, pausing before the delicately crafted necklace settings proudly displaying their sparkling jewels, watching children play and shriek at the shallow pool in the courtyard, making quiet conversation in the stillness of the museum, our voices muffled by masks but gleeful to be reunited after two years apart.

I am glad to be reminded of this day, and all the others we spent together that week. I am glad, too, to be reminded of how important it is to stay present and not fall into the fear that it might slip away. All moments do—and must—come to an end. But it is due to their fleeting nature that they are so precious. By being mindful and intentionally enjoying each new day as it comes, we are opening ourselves up to the richness of experience that life has to offer.

Something that has always helped remind me to slow down and protect my time to process everything is journalling. On most days, I take at least 20 minutes in the morning to mull over the events of the previous day or write about what’s to come. I empty my mind into the pages, and find that I am much more focused for the remainder of the day. Spending that time with myself is a sacred part of my morning ritual. It allows me to check in on Violet and see how she’s holding up. The world has been big and scary and stressful as of late, and we all need a place where we can safely express the myriad emotions that arise as a direct result of that. More recently, I’ve been adding in a gratitude practice to my morning routine. I keep it simple and list just three things that I feel grateful for before I’ve had a cup of coffee. (I find that I’m more honest that way). The effect of this simple practice has subtly shifted my thoughts in a tremendous way. I find that my whole mentality now runs on a natural parallel to my morning gratitude. As someone who is often prone to low mood when the sun sets before 4 p.m., it has been a transformative experience to find so much joy in each day since making it a mission to seek joy out. And on the days that I cannot find joy, I always find peace.

You may have already heard that Mum and I have collaborated on the creation of a Daily Gratitude Journal. Following the same simple strategy that I and many others have adopted, it provides an easy structure for building a daily gratitude practice. It is a robust, year-long journal that can be used to set intentions and goals, manifest your ideal reality, reflect on what you’ve learned and what more you’d like to discover, deepen your relationship with yourself and all the people in your life that you love, and, of course, express your gratitude however you see fit.

If you feel that you have spent too much time in anticipation of the future, it will serve as a reminder to slow down and focus on the present. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the holiday havoc, it provides you with a designated time to sit with your thoughts and release your tensions onto the page. If you have such a busy schedule that you can’t possibly imagine adding one more thing to your list of to-do’s, this Gratitude Journal takes a total of five minutes to complete each day.

My final note is this:

I am grateful you took the time to read this.

I am grateful to be creatively collaborating with my family.

I am grateful we have all found each other in this lifetime.

Peace and blessings to you all.