28/12/2024
This Christmas, wherever you find yourself, know that the season carries something different for everyone. For some, it is a time of magic and warmth, home are alive with laughter, lights twinkle in every corner, and the air is filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon. Families come together sharing stories, gifts, and meals. Love feels tangible, wrapped in every hug and every smile. For those surrounded by joy, this season shines brighter than any other - a time to savor connection and tradition.
But for others, this season can be heavy. It can magnify the weight of absence - the person who should be here but isn't, the phone call that won't come, the place at the table left empty. Grief doesn't wait for permission. It slips into quiet moments, making the ache of loss feel sharper against the backdrop of celebration.
For those who are alone, Christmas can feel like a mirror, reflecting every fear, every doubt, every unfulfilled longing. The world outside glows with togetherness, but inside the silence is deafening. It's hard to hold on to the magic when it feels like you're on the outside looking in.
And then there are those carrying visible burdens - those who smile through the pain trying to not let it show. Maybe it's the stress of making ends meet or the exhaustion of trying to hold everything together for others. Maybe it's an ache they can't quite name but feel all the same.
Wherever you are this Christmas, whether your heart is full, aching, or somewhere in between, know this: you are not alone. Your feelings, whatever they may be, are valid. You are seen. Be kind to yourself. Let yourself feel the joy if it's there. Let yourself grieve if that's what you need. Let yourself rest if you're tired.
This season isn't about perfection, it's about humanity. It's about finding light even in the smallest of places. And let's carry this with us. Be gentle with each other. The person next to you might be celebrating their brightest Christmas yet or quietly enduring their hardest. A kind word, a small gesture, or simply a moment of understanding can mean everything.
Christmas is complex, beautiful, and bittersweet. It hold joy and sorrow, light and shadow, and in it's heart lies a simple truth - love matters. It's what binds us, what heals us, and what carries us forward. So, this Christmas, let's choose love - towards others, and most of all, towards ourselves.
Kit Birks on TikTok
