Seasons greetings and salutations! 

::deep inhale. deep exhale::

We made it, friend – we made it to the end of another year. Well. Freaking. Done.

I’m writing this letter inspired by the twinkling lights of downtown Chicago, people walking around shopping for the holidays, and cozy because of my sweatshirt and pajama pants on this cold winter day. I love the holidays. I’m known as the little Christmas elf, decorating our home with lights and trees and joy. I think it’s because growing up, while my parents didn’t have much, they showed my brother and I the true meaning of Christmas – feeling safe and comforted. When I was young I remember my dad telling me a story about someone who gave me a little wooden toy car. He said that while it wasn’t much, they gave it to me, fully and wholeheartedly, and that the little car was that much more special because of it. That has stayed with me.

For me, the holidays are about taking the time to be grateful for what is. Holidays can also be really hard for some people. I’m in the middle of mourning the loss of a few family members in recent months. Life is all but clear and concise. I’m learning to live in the gray (make it gray with sparkles)...

As I reflect on this past year full of adventure, heartache, joy, change, learnings, sadness, and newness, I am keenly aware of how lucky I am to not only be a part of Lightward, but to bear witness to what’s happening in and around the living thing that is Lightward. I’ve learned that living things change and evolve and aren’t stale and want to live. I’ve seen all of this played out in our business the last year – from different iterations of the same projects we’ve been working on to opting into sharing our story through the creation of Lightward Journal to team retreat nights that seemed like the world around us stopped and we were soaking in pure delight and joy – it has been a year of aliveness. What a cool thing to experience, a privilege to have it happen in a world so caught up in numbers and stats and sometimes tightly-wound goals. 

I love reflecting during this time of year. I think winter (at least in most of the northern hemisphere where it’s cold right now) invites us to slow down and take stock of all the things – mother nature’s warm soup, made to enjoy slowly and warm the soul. I hope you get to take time to reflect on your year, to take stock of what brought life to your soul this year, and maybe what didn’t, because understanding that is important too. I hope that you feel loved and cared for. I hope you take a moment to ask yourself what wants to happen next – inviting in what is uniquely yours.

We’re excited about what’s to come in 2023 – some of it we know, most of it we don’t. What we will continue doing is relying on the act of listening to our internal navigation systems that have and will continue to guide us, and Lightward towards more light, more health. Thank you for your support and love this year. I can’t wait to see what happens next, what about you? 🙂

With love and the most joyful and thankful heart,

Abe