The holidays are a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but they can also feel overwhelming, leaving little room for self-care. The packed schedules, family obligations, and societal pressures to make everything perfect can quickly drain your energy. It’s during these moments, though, that perseverance becomes essential.
Perseverance. Strength. Determination. All of these things reside inside you. You can, and have, overcome obstacles. It is in our human spirit. Your inner strength and determination will get you through life’s hard times. This is your call to never forget your power, your strength. Remember, you have survived all of your hardest days.
Now, perseverance doesn’t mean powering through everything without pause or ignoring your limits. Instead, it’s about showing up for yourself, even when it feels like there’s no time or energy left. Small acts of self-care, consistently practiced, are powerful during this season.
The key to perseverance is acknowledging that it’s okay for things to feel hard—and then deciding how you’ll move forward anyway. Some days, showing up might mean honoring a long-standing tradition that brings you joy; other days, it might look like setting boundaries and letting yourself rest. Both are valid, and both are acts of resilience.
There is strength in feeling the full range of your emotions. We tend to stifle the more negative ones for positivity's sake. I am here to tell you that feeling those emotions is also important. It is how you manage all of these emotions that make the difference.
For me, giving myself a moment to feel all of my feelings and then moving on works. I take a deep breath and try to look at the situation as objectively as possible. The role of the observer from day one comes in pretty handy here.
As you navigate the holiday season, remember that perseverance isn’t about perfection; it’s about choosing, again and again, to care for yourself in the ways that matter most. You’re building a foundation that not only supports you now but carries you into the new year with strength and intention.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
- What gives you strength?
- When have you been most surprised by your strength and courage?
- How do you move through fear?
- When did you recently encounter raw, untamed emotion, either within yourself or from another person? How did you respond?
TODAY'S GIFT
BOOKISH SELF-CARE
Today's gift is something to help you persevere through your TBR. I am kind of regretting not ordering enough of these for myself. My TBR is OUT. OF. CONTROL. Simply write the name of the book on the card and put the little scratch off sticker over it. Later, when you can't decide what to read, scratch it off and get to reading.
25 DAYS SAMPLE BOX
Today enjoy the PERSEVERE candle. It is a 2 oz. sample candle of the Nesta candle I offer in my shop. If you've read the entire A Court of Thorns and Roses series, you know Nesta is one to persevere through, well, a lot. Her scent is described as "fire and steel and unbending will." Which, is pretty much perseverance.
25 DAYS & DELUXE 25 DAYS
Your gift is very special to me. My sweet, dear friend Tess made these little felt succulents. Succulents are the epitome of perseverance to me. They don't take much water They grow in rocks. They are tough! So enjoy this little houseplant that takes zero effort.
Tess is not only an amazing fiber artist, but a dear friend. You can follow her on instagram @teekaehandmade, or checkout here website at www.teekaehandmade.com. (If you love butter I 10/10 recommend her butter ornaments for your tree, too).