When Christmas Feels Different

Holding gratitude, grief, and hope as Christmas approaches

As 2025 draws to a close, I found myself wanting to write a letter of thanks and reflection as Christmas approaches. Just a chance to pause and acknowledge the season and the guests, listeners, and wider community who’ve been part of Resilient Souls this year.

But over the past week or so, something happened in our country that made a bright, celebratory message feel out of place. The events in Bondi shocked us all. What should have been a fun filled, meaningful celebration for a community gathering by the sea was suddenly overshadowed by fear, trauma, and terrible loss. Not only for those directly affected, but for many of us who felt the secondary weight of it. Writing as if that hadn’t happened felt tone-deaf.

I almost didn’t know how to write this. To ignore the tension in our nation would be unwise, but to address it could also come across the wrong way. But in the end, this is why Resilient Souls exists. Because the challenges of life don’t pause for neat little reflections. Loss and disruption come to many of us and our families when we least expect them, and we’re left trying to make sense of the world again........

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All new articles and resources now live on Substack. You’ll find reflections, practical ideas, and gentle encouragement there.