There’s something about Christmas lights that softens the whole world. The other night, as the glow from my tree sparkled across the living room, I felt that familiar tug of nostalgia, the same warm pull I used to feel when my own kids were little, racing into the kitchen on December mornings to see what surprise their advent calendar held.

The other evening, I sat at my dining room table with a cup of soup warming my hands, the soft glow of the lamp casting a golden circle of light around me. Outside, the world was already dark, and inside I could almost feel the season shifting, that quiet whisper of winter approaching, of gatherings, traditions, and expectations slowly waking up for another year.

There are moments in life when we can almost feel the pages turning. Not the chapters we read in a book, but the ones we live, the ones filled with change, courage, and the desire to rediscover who we truly are. Over the last year, I felt myself standing right in the middle of one of those moments.

The other night, I opened the calendar on my phone and stared at the colorful dots filling each day. How could we already be nearing the end of the year? It feels like just yesterday I was setting goals, mapping out dreams, and writing intentions for what I wanted this year to hold. And yet, here we are.

Lately, every time I open the calendar on my phone, I can’t help but notice the growing patchwork of colored dots and reminders, family dinners, events, get-togethers, and travel plans all stacked together like ornaments on an already full tree. It’s that unmistakable sign that the holiday season is here again.

A few weeks ago, I shared about the women’s golf retreat I attended for the first time this fall, an annual four-day getaway filled with fairways, laughter, and a whole lot of dimes and quarters. I was a substitute for another gal who couldn’t make it, and when asked to join, I didn’t hesitate. Without overthinking it, I said yes. Though I’m far from an avid golfer, I was reassured it was mostly for fun and as it turns out, that was absolutely true.

There’s something about fall on the farm that stirs my heart. That comforting blend of nostalgia and joy that only comes from being surrounded by family, laughter, and the smell of harvest in the air. Recently, my family gathered for one of my favorite traditions of the year, our annual family dinner and hayride.

It was one of those afternoons when the air felt soft and golden, and the hum of the chicken coop mixed with the rustle of leaves in the breeze. My then 14-month-old granddaughter toddled across the yard, her tiny shoes crunching over apples scattered on the ground. She spotted empty buckets sitting near the coop and with great intention, set them side by side.

The morning sun peeked over the horizon as I loaded my golf clubs into the back of my SUV. My car was packed to the brim including snacks, drinks, grab bag gift, golf shoes, clubs, and more quarters and dimes than I’d carried in all my life. I laughed to myself, wondering if I’d brought everything except the kitchen sink. It was the start of a four-day golf retreat, and although I didn’t quite know what to expect, my heart buzzed with both excitement and a touch of nervous anticipation.

The other evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and painted the sky in soft hues of gold and lavender, I found myself sitting on my front porch lost in my thoughts. The world felt quiet, that beautiful kind of quiet that only comes when the day exhales. A soft breeze rustled the trees, and for the first time in a while, I felt still enough to listen, not to the world around me, but to the whisper within.

Not long ago, I found myself staring at my phone, heart racing, fingers hovering above the keyboard. I had put off writing a response for days because, deep down, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Setting boundaries never feels simple for me. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. I don’t want to come across as unkind. And yet, I also know my needs matter and if I don’t honor them, who will?

Recently, I found myself walking through the old barns on the farm with my brother Jeff. The air carried that familiar scent of weathered wood, rust, and hay soaked into the walls over decades of storms, laughter, and long summer days. Jeff is preparing for a sale, letting go of some items the farm no longer needs, tools and treasures that have held their place for over a hundred years.

Recently, I had the opportunity to step into a whole new world: grape harvesting at DC Estate Winery in South Beloit, Illinois. Nestled in the rolling countryside where Illinois and Wisconsin meet, this Tuscan-inspired winery offers more than wine, it offers connection, community, and the beauty of slowing down.

Sometimes life’s sweetest surprises come when we say yes to something new. Last November, my friend Marilyn invited me to join her weekly Mahjong group. I had heard of the game before but never played. To be honest, I wasn’t sure my brain was up for learning something so complicated, but I decided to take a chance. That “yes” became the beginning of new friendships, plenty of laughter, and even a deeper bond with my sister.

Have you ever had an experience that left you both breathless and grateful all at once? That was me in Dubrovnik, Croatia, suspended 165 feet (50 meters) in the air at Dinner in the Sky, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that combined fine dining, panoramic beauty, and a dash of courage.

Over a year ago, two of my girlfriends reached out with an invitation that sounded straight out of a travel magazine, “Would you like to spend a week on a yacht in the Adriatic Sea, sailing to Croatia and its islands?” My first thought? Croatia? Honestly, it wasn’t even on my bucket list. The cost seemed steep, and I couldn’t quite picture myself there. My automatic response was a hesitant no.

Some days are meant to test your patience, your sense of humor, and your ability to go with the flow, literally. Back in July, my friend Trina invited me and my daughter Hannah to see Teddy Swims in concert along the beautiful lakefront of Lake Michigan. We had Teddy on repeat for weeks, belting out his soulful songs in anticipation of what we thought would be an unforgettable musical night. Little did we know, it would turn into an unforgettable adventure.

Have you been feeling a little stuck lately? Maybe bored or even frustrated with where you are in life, not completely unhappy, but sensing there’s more waiting for you beyond the routine? That whisper inside you saying, “There’s something else, something better.”