Reflections on Christmas Eve
For the first time in four years, I’ll be home for Christmas Eve. In the boutiques, I always chose to give this time to my associates, making sure they could be with their loved ones. I would ask for a lone volunteer to join me, and together, we found joy and connection while helping those who had waited until the last minute to find the perfect gifts for their families.
This year is different. On Christmas Eve, I have the opportunity to reflect—not only on the past year but also on the story I’ve been living. For my family, the last half of December has always been a time to recuperate and recover from a year spent performing at a high level, both personally and professionally. It’s a time to pause, find joy in what’s been accomplished, and savor the anticipation of what’s to come in the new year.
As I reflect on this past year, I find myself thinking about the stories we tell ourselves. This year, I left a position I loved to pursue the opportunity to be great at something largely unknown. I experienced both the joy and the discomfort of standing on stage for the first time, the applause that followed, and the encouragement to live larger. All of these moments—both thrilling and challenging—shape the narrative of our lives.
As a new author, I’ve come to realize that at any point, we can decide where the story goes next.
In just a few weeks, on January 14th, my memoir Do You Still Like Football will be released. Writing that was about seeing the greater picture in the experience of the life within the pages. It was about embracing the struggles, the experiences, the successes, and even the traumatic, life-altering moments. It meant seeing failures as opportunities to grow, learning from them, and recognizing them for what they truly are: gifts.
This year, I was tested deeply. I faced a tremendous amount of discomfort and learned to find strength in being uncomfortable. I’ve come to understand that the experiences we say yes to—whether they bring us comfort or discomfort, joy or challenges—are not random. Award-winning keynotes and betrayals in business relationships alike shape us, challenge us, and call us to step into who we are meant to be.
Joseph Campbell said, “The purpose and meaning of life is found in the experience of it.” But I like to take that one step further: to truly maximize life’s purpose, “you must say yes to new experiences.”
On this Christmas Eve, I encourage you to reflect on the experiences that have brought you to this day. What lessons have you learned? What strengths have you brought to this journey? And most importantly, what story are you going to write as you move into the next year?
Perhaps your story can be one of resilience—of saying yes to life’s uncertainties. Maybe it’s time to let go of the story you’ve been telling yourself, the one that no longer serves who you are becoming, and instead begin to write a new narrative.
A writing coach of mine, Mark Matousek, once said, “When you tell the truth, your story changes, and when your story changes, your life is transformed.” That simple truth has stayed with me, and I hope it inspires you as it has inspired me.
Tonight, as the world quiets and the lights continue to twinkle on the tree, take a moment to reflect on the story of this year—the places you’ve been, the experiences that have shaped you—and move forward with hope, possibility, and purpose.
Because Christmas Day is the ultimate reminder of new beginnings. It’s a day that shows us what’s possible when we lead with love and grace. And that, perhaps, is the most beautiful gift of all—the one we can give to ourselves and to those around us.
If these ideas resonate and you’re ready to explore your own growth, let’s connect. Book a call with me to see how we can work together on your development.
