I know I keep saying it, but this year really is flying! My family is already talking about Christmas, while I’m just trying to get through each day without worrying about what I haven’t ticked off my list. Honestly, it still feels like I should be wishing people a Happy New Year – so if you hear me say that, just assume I’m already practising for 2026!
“Time is fleeting, but the lessons we gather and the love we give make every moment last forever.”
It’s been a challenging year in many ways – for me, and I know for many of you too. But with the lows have also come so many highs, and that balance has reminded me of some lessons, many of them taught to me by my own children.
The first lesson is that every day really is a new day. Children have this wonderful elasticity about them – they wake up full of energy, ready to take on life as if yesterday’s heartache never happened. I’m trying to bring more of that into my own life (although I’ll admit it takes at least two cups of coffee before I can even attempt it!).
Another lesson is about people. Not everyone is meant to walk with us in life, and that’s okay. We live in a world where popularity seems to measure worth, but what truly matters is quality – the friends who stand by you, the ones you can love fiercely, and the ones who bring out the best in you.
Then there’s time. One moment you’re rocking a baby, and before you know it, you’re driving them home from school while they tell you all the reasons they’d be the best president in the world – because they’re kind. Those moments remind me just how fleeting childhood really is. Our little ones don’t stay little forever, so we need to soak up the conversations, the laughter, the “in-between” times. They matter more than we realise.
And of course, fear. It sneaks in everywhere – money, work, parenting, relationships. But I’ve learned that if you’re scared, it probably means it matters. Fear doesn’t have to stop us; it can remind us that we’re alive, that we care. Sometimes you just have to do it scared – take the step, try the thing, chase the dream. Because the real question is: what will fear steal from you if you don’t?
Life has a way of teaching us lessons in the toughest of times, and I try to pause and reflect on those moments. Maybe it’s not just hardship – maybe it’s protection, redirection, or preparation for something better.
And so, as we enter the last three months of the year, my encouragement to you is this: don’t wait for January to start again. Every single day is a chance to reset, to be brave, and to keep moving toward your goals. Some days will be tough, but tomorrow always brings another opportunity.
Let’s finish this year not by trying to “win” it, but by living it with courage, kindness, and the knowledge that every step – even the fearful ones – has a purpose.
