Celebrate 2024

… and do something you love every day of New Year.

At the VanDusen Botanical Gardens Festival of Lights. (Vancouver)

Each year the Christmas festivities create a general feeling of goodwill. We relish the warmth of the season and extend wishes of comfort and joy to all friends and family, both near and far.

It's always with a bit of reluctance that I bid the festive season of "goodwill to all" adieu. But nothing stops me from carrying these sentiments of warmth and friendship with me into the new year. Finding something we love to do everyday is one way to nurture this.

For me, as well as many others, needle and thread have always brought feelings of warmth and comfort. The quiet, meditative rhythm of Boutis, or any other hand-made needle work, is captivating and encourages me to slow down. Tension and stress drop away and a feeling of contentment takes root. The quiet joy of the moment will be reflected in our attitude to others. As my late yoga teacher once said, "You cannot share what you do not have."

It's with this in mind that I will enter 2024 and celebrate the things that bring me joy, one of them being Boutis.

Have a sparkling 2024 and celebrate each day of the new year.