The end of the year always feels a little surreal. We go from the rush of Thanksgiving to the quiet stretch before winter truly settles in. A space where everything slows down just enough for us to hear ourselves think again. This year's pause has me reflecting. Between writing deadlines, life’s unexpected turns, and the emotional mountains I didn’t expect to climb, I found myself doing something I rarely make time for: taking a breath. Letting myself feel proud. Letting m