The holiday season has always felt like a pause button on life. As the air gets colder and days get shorter, everything seems to slow down just enough to breathe. I love the cold, the kind that makes you grab extra layers and snuggle into the warmth. I love the snow, how it softens the city’s landscape and makes everything more quiet. There’s something especially comforting coming home after a long day and feeling warm in my bed, knowing the world outside has finally slowed down.
For me, the holidays became a time for reflection as well. It’s when I look back at the year and see how much has changed, how much I’ve grown and all the moments that shaped me along the way. The holiday season reminds me to truly appreciate every moment for what it is, even the ones that felt small at the time or irrelevant. There’s beauty in simply being present.
Although I don’t celebrate Christmas myself, I somehow always find my way into my friends’ holiday traditions. I end up joining their families, sitting at tables filled with food and laughter, witnessing all the joy that fills their homes. There’s something incredibly wholesome about being welcomed into someone else’s celebration. Watching people exchanging gifts, sharing meals and enjoying time together reminds me that joy doesn’t have to be a person to be meaningful, it’s enough to witness it and feel included.
This year, the holiday season also means ending the year by visiting my extended family in Bangladesh, people I haven’t seen in years, yet welcome me as if no time has passed at all. Even with the distance and time apart, there’s a familiarity that never fades. Being welcomed so warmly reminds me that family isn’t defined by proximity, but by connection. Those reunions carry a different kind of joy, one rooted in history, culture and unconditional belonging.
Winter break also brings moments of reunions closer to home. After many of my friends being separated by college schedules and busy lives, seeing family and friends again feels grounding. Conversations flow easily, and time feels slower. Whether it’s a crowded gathering or a quiet moment alone, each experience adds to the richness of the season.
The true cherry on top is around this time of the year all the festivities important to me are celebrated in one month. My birthday, Christmas with friends, and the New Year. I always feel so blessed to have these emotions run high as I am growing older, knowing exactly what matters the most to me. I hope all of you reading feel the same as I do and much more.
The holiday season teaches you balance, the joy of being surrounded by people, celebrating together or even being alone. Other times, watching the snow fall, quietly reflecting or simply enjoying the stillness. Beyond my own experiences, seeing the world light up, homes decorated, streets glowing, people moving with a little more kindness brings me all the comfort and warmth needed to end the year off on a good note and to start the next year with an open heart. Happy Holidays from me to you. ♡