Closing the Year with Gratitude, Compassion & Hope

As we move through December and towards a brand-new year, my heart is filled with deep gratitude for every one of you who has walked alongside me in 2025.

To my clients, thank you for trusting me to guide you in your healing, your vulnerable moments, and your courageous steps forward. Each session has been a reminder of the incredible strength of the human spirit.

To my retreat groups, Reiki students and practitioners, and all who gathered in shared intention, your openness created spaces where healing could unfold in the most beautiful ways. Every circle this year held its own magic.

To my beloved Soulful Journeys online community, thank you for showing up with honesty, humour, and heart. Your willingness to connect, learn, and grow together continues to inspire me.

To everyone who attended the Heart Space Gatherings, thank you for bringing your presence, your energy, and your wisdom. These moments of reflection and connection have woven a thread of unity through the year.

And to my podcast guests and listeners, thank you for your stories, your support, and your curiosity. Each conversation has been a celebration of resilience, and every listen has helped these stories reach the hearts that needed them most.

Honouring Where You Are This December

December carries its own rhythm, quiet reflection for some, emotional heaviness for others, joy and celebration for many. Wherever you find yourself, may you meet that place with compassion rather than expectation.

This month is an invitation to pause…
To soften…
To breathe…
And to honour what this year has asked of you.

You don’t need to be anything other than who you are in this moment.

Meeting Yourself with Kindness, Meeting Others with Patience

As the world speeds up with festivities and obligations, the inner world often needs something slower and gentler.

A few reminders that may help:

• Your energy is precious - protect it.

You are allowed to say no. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to choose where you show up and where you don’t.

• Boundaries are acts of love.

They protect your wellbeing and allow your “yes” to be wholehearted. Choose the engagements, conversations, and spaces that feel aligned.

• Remember that everyone carries their own story.

Patience gives others the space to be human too.

• Pause often. Breathe deeply. Ground yourself.

A moment of presence can shift an entire day.

Caring for Your Wellbeing Over the Holidays

This season can be nourishing, but it can also be overwhelming. Consider these gentle practices:

• Create small rituals of stillness: a morning cup of tea in silence, a mindful walk, a few minutes of stillness or breathwork.

• Stay connected to what supports you: your journaling, your grounding practices, your community.

• Let joy in where it naturally flows not where you feel pressure to perform it.

• Balance giving with receiving: allow others to support you too.

• Choose simplicity whenever possible: you don’t need to do everything for this season to be meaningful.

• Please enjoy a guided meditation I recorded to support you through the holidays

Stepping Into the New Year

As 2026 approaches, I look forward to continuing this work with you, supporting your healing, growth, and inner awakening.

I’m delighted to share some of the upcoming offerings for the new year:

Upcoming Events for 2026

• Reiki Training & Share Circles — deepening your connection to your healing gifts.

• Retreat Days & Soulful Journeys Gatherings — spaces to reset, reconnect, and nourish the spirit.

• Heart Space Community Meet-Ups — continuing to build a compassionate, supportive circle.

• Online Program — to guide you into clarity, alignment, and wellbeing as the year begins.

• New Podcast Conversations — more stories of resilience, healing, and human courage.

I can’t wait to welcome you into whatever calls to your heart.

With Deep Gratitude

Thank you for being part of this beautiful year of healing, learning, and soulful connection. You have touched my life in ways I hold with great appreciation.

May this December bring you gentleness.
May the holidays offer you moments of true rest.
And may the coming year open with hope, intention, and the knowing that you are supported every step of the way.

With love,
Sharon

What makes a good friend?

Friendship is a unique bond built on mutual affection, trust, and respect, where individuals connect deeply, share experiences, and offer support. Unlike relationships based solely on proximity or convenience, friendship is defined by a genuine, personal interest in another’s well-being and happiness. It goes beyond mere companionship and includes a sense of loyalty, understanding, and often, a shared sense of humour or common interests.

A good friend embodies certain qualities that nurture and sustain this bond. Here are some essential traits:

Trustworthiness: Trust is foundational to any friendship. A good friend is someone you can confide in, who respects your privacy, and whose words and actions match their intentions.

Empathy and Understanding: A good friend listens without judgement, offering empathy and a safe space for you to express yourself. They make an effort to understand your feelings and support you through tough times.

Reliability: A good friend is dependable and consistent, whether that’s in keeping promises or simply showing up when you need them. Reliability builds security within the friendship, knowing someone is there when it counts.

Respect and Acceptance: A good friend respects your values, differences, and boundaries. They don’t try to change you but appreciate you for who you are, embracing your quirks and individuality.

Supportive Encouragement: A good friend encourages you to grow, celebrates your successes, and inspires you to be the best version of yourself. They provide honest feedback with kindness and are your biggest cheerleader during both highs and lows.

Mutual Effort: Friendship is a two-way street that requires both people to invest time, energy, and care. A good friend values this balance and puts in as much effort as they expect to receive.

These qualities make a friendship resilient and fulfilling, forming the basis for a connection that endures over time. Friendship, at its best, adds warmth, joy, and support to life.

Realising a friendship isn’t serving you can be difficult because friendships often carry deep emotional ties. However, there are certain signs that indicate a friendship may no longer be positive or healthy for you. Here are some key moments when you might recognize this:

One-Sided Effort

If you’re always the one reaching out, planning, or making efforts to connect, it may be a sign the friendship is unbalanced. True friendships require mutual effort, and when it feels like a constant chase, it may no longer be fulfilling.

Constant Negativity or Draining Energy

If you feel emotionally drained after spending time with this friend, it might indicate an imbalance. Some friends only vent or focus on negative aspects of life without providing the same support or joy in return, which can affect your own mental well-being.

Lack of Support or Encouragement

Good friends cheer for your achievements and support your dreams. If this friend often downplays your accomplishments, competes with you, or makes you feel guilty for your success, it’s a sign the friendship might be more toxic than supportive.

Consistent Disrespect for Boundaries

If a friend repeatedly crosses your boundaries, whether emotional, physical, or social, it can erode your trust and sense of safety in the relationship. Ignoring your boundaries shows a lack of respect and consideration.

Feeling Judged or Unaccepted

In a healthy friendship, you should feel accepted for who you are. If you feel like you have to hide aspects of yourself, feel judged, or are afraid to share your true thoughts and feelings, the friendship may be more harmful than supportive.

Lack of Trust

Trust is crucial in any friendship. If this person has betrayed your trust, gossiped about you, or revealed personal information, it can be difficult to feel safe confiding in them again. Lack of trust can make you question their loyalty and reliability.

More Stress than Joy

Friendships should primarily add happiness and comfort to your life. If you find yourself more stressed or anxious about the friendship—perhaps due to arguments, misunderstandings, or resentment—it might be a signal that the friendship is no longer serving you.

Personal Growth and Changing Values

Sometimes, friendships fade simply because people grow in different directions. If your values, goals, or lifestyle no longer align and you feel there’s less common ground, the friendship may not be as compatible as it once was.

Emotional Manipulation or Guilt-Tripping

If a friend frequently makes you feel guilty, uses passive-aggressive behaviour, or manipulates your emotions to control situations, this can be a form of emotional abuse. This is a serious sign that the friendship is unhealthy.

Feeling Unsupported in Your Boundaries or Goals

A friend who doesn’t respect your boundaries or doesn’t support your growth can hinder your well-being. If they discourage positive changes in your life or make you feel guilty for prioritizing your mental health, they may be holding you back.

Recognising that a friendship no longer serves you doesn’t make it an easy decision to step away. However, prioritising friendships that uplift, support, and inspire you is essential for your personal well-being and happiness.

Valuing yourself in a friendship starts with recognising your worth, setting healthy boundaries and understanding that you deserve kindness and respect. When you value yourself, you are better equipped to be a genuine friend and one who listens, supports and shows up. At the same time, being a better friend means practicing empathy, communicating openly and being reliable. True friendship is a balance, it thrives when both people give and receive in a way that is respectful, caring and authentic.

Sharon