What I learned this year

I’m sitting in my living room as I write this, with an empty box of chocolates beside me and my Christmas lights bringing a little warmth and magic into the space, and it feels like the right moment to write my last blog of the year, to pause and reflect on what I’ve learned from the people who have crossed my path this year, through conversations, shared moments, and simply through the way they live their lives.

I’ve always felt that we have so much to learn from each other, and that wisdom often comes less from books and more from lived experience. There is something deeply grounding about listening to people who have been through things, who have loved, lost, struggled, healed, adapted, and continued. Especially from those who carry more life experience than us, whose words are shaped not by theory, but by reality.

One of the things I’ve learned is how important it is to make your own sunshine. Creating beauty in our lives is often in our own hands. We can wait for others to bring us joy or care, but nobody knows better than us what makes us feel nourished and alive. Those moments rarely happen by chance, they need to be chosen, planned, and protected, otherwise everyday responsibilities quietly take over.

I’ve also been reminded of the quiet power of gratitude as something we actually feel. Having a roof over our head, clothes to wear, food on the table, and people around us are not small things, even if we sometimes forget. Even if our health isn’t perfect, there are parts of our body that are still supporting us, still working, still carrying us through the day. Gratitude becomes real when we slow down enough to notice these things and let them land.

Another lesson that keeps coming back is to do what genuinely makes us happy. To live a life that feels true to who we are, rather than shaped by expectations that don’t belong to us. The people who love us want us to be well and content, and the opinions of those who judge usually don’t matter as much as we think. There is a quiet freedom in choosing authenticity over approval.

Movement has also been a steady teacher. Keeping the body active, strong, and cared for through regular movement makes a real difference. It supports the body, but it also clears the mind. Many of the people who carry vitality into later years have a  regular relationship with exercise.

Life’s fragility has been one of the deeper teachers this year. When someone passes away unexpectedly, it reminds us that tomorrow is not guaranteed. We often move through our days assuming there will always be more time, more chances, more later. Valuing each day is remembering that life is precious because it is finite.

One of the most touching lessons I’ve received came from a dear guest of mine who lives with a very difficult illness. His strength and attitude continue to inspire me deeply. One of his mantras is that when we go through something challenging, we do our best and we remember that somewhere in the world, someone has it worse. Not as a way of dismissing our pain, but as a way of finding perspective and resilience.

I’ve also learned how important it is to show people that we appreciate them. It’s easy to assume that the people in our lives already know how much they mean to us and sometimes we can forget to remind them. A message, a card, a small gift, a few honest words, especially when they are specific can make a big difference.. Telling someone exactly what we appreciate about them, rather than assuming it’s obvious, is a simple way of letting them know they are not taken for granted.

Humour has been another gentle teacher. A funny message, a shared joke, a bit of playful flirting, a good comedy or simply laughing with a friend until your cheeks hurt can shift the energy of an entire day. I laughed so much recently with a friend who has a gift for finding humour in almost anything, and it reminded me how much I Iove to laugh.

Kindness, in its simplest forms, continues to matter. Helping a friend who needs a lift, being there for someone who is struggling, checking in on a poorly relative or offering support to someone we barely know can bring more light than we realise. Small gestures are never small to the person receiving them.

I’ve also learned the value of speaking directly and honestly, with care. Sometimes we see things in someone’s life that they can’t see themselves, and when shared gently, those reflections can be deeply appreciated. Sharing something that worked for us, a piece of useful information, or a perspective born from experience can be a way of truly supporting each other, instead of filling time with conversations that don’t nourish anyone.

Time has become one of my clearest teachers. Time is our most valuable resource, and it’s not unlimited. We are constantly choosing how to spend it and with whom. Becoming more conscious of these choices has changed the way I live. I’m more careful now, choosing people, activities and habits that feel genuinely good for me.

And finally, I’ve been reminded that elegance is timeless. It has very little to do with social status or what we wear. It lives in how we move through the world, how we speak, what we choose to speak about, and the energy we bring into a space. Kindness is elegant. Gossip is not.

There are many more lessons, but I’ll stop here for now.

As this year comes to an end, I want to express my gratitude for all the beautiful moments I’ve shared with wonderful people, for all the ways connection continues to enrich my life, and for life itself. I’m grateful for every day I wake up, put my feet on the floor and stand up. And I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to read my words.

Before you go, I invite you to pause for a moment and think of three things you are grateful for right now.

Love,

Rosie x