Christmas Eve: Embracing Stillness and Presence
Christmas Eve often feels like a whirlwind of preparation, expectations, and memories. For me, it’s also a sacred invitation to slow down and find stillness in the midst of the bustle. As the lights glow softly and quiet moments unfold, I reflect on the gift of presence—being fully here, with loved ones or even alone, breathing in gratitude and breathing out tension. This Christmas Eve, consider setting aside a few minutes to sit in silence, to connect with your heart’s deepest wishes, and to embrace the magic of now. Let stillness be your gift to yourself and those you hold dear. May your night be filled with peace, connection, and gentle light.
Walking as Meditation
Walking can be a moving meditation, a way to reconnect with the present. After my father’s loss, I found comfort in walks through nature, letting the rhythm of my steps and the sound of leaves anchor me. Even in the city, walking mindfully—feeling the ground beneath your feet, noticing the air, observing the world around you—can bring peace. This week, try a mindful walk. Let each step be an invitation to presence.
The Power of a Pause
Life moves quickly, but sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is pause. When I left bedside nursing due to burnout, I realized that pausing was not a luxury; it was necessary. Meditation helped me learn to pause before reacting, to breathe before responding, to simply be before doing. This week, whenever you feel overwhelmed, try pausing for just one breath. Notice what changes when you choose stillness.
The Stillness Between
In the rush of life, it’s easy to overlook the quiet spaces—the pause between breaths, the silence after a conversation, the moment before action. As a nurse, I learned that stillness is not emptiness; it is a place of clarity and strength. Meditation has taught me to lean into these spaces, letting go of the need to fill every moment. This week, invite stillness into your day. Notice what arises when you simply pause and listen. Sometimes, the most profound insights come from the spaces between.
Gratitude for Each Chapter
Married for almost twenty years, I have learned that gratitude powers every relationship through losses and joys. Each chapter—childhood sorrow, career change, renewal—deserves a thank you. Meditation and quiet reflection help me remember the gifts of presence, connection, and resilience I have received. This week, pause to thank someone or something for their role in your story. Even silent gratitude, offered inwardly, leaves a mark of kindness on the heart.
Thanksgiving: The Gift of Gratitude
Thanksgiving is a beautiful reminder to pause and give thanks, not just for the bounty on our tables but for the unseen gifts that shape our lives. As I reflect on my journey—the loss, the love, the career shifts, and the quiet moments of connection—I’m reminded how much I’ve been given, even in the hardest times. This Thanksgiving, I invite you to sit in stillness, light a candle, and let gratitude fill your heart. Name the people, experiences, and simple joys that have carried you through the year. Let gratitude be your anchor, grounding you in the present and opening your heart to all that is good.
Self-Awareness in Everyday Life
Sometimes, self-awareness arrives unexpectedly—through a patient’s story, a quiet evening, or reflection on the day. Switching from business to nursing gave me fresh perspective; leaving the bedside because of burnout helped me rediscover my boundaries. When we know ourselves, even imperfectly, we can better offer compassion to others. Take five minutes this week to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment. Let awareness become your ally rather than your critic.
Meditation for Healing
Healing does not follow a timeline; it asks for patience and gentle presence. After my mother’s loss, I found comfort in breath-focused meditation, simply noticing each inhale and exhale. Even now, when grief or stress arises, these moments help me soften resistance and welcome what is true. Meditation is not about perfection—it’s about showing up with openness. This week, spend a few minutes each day with a simple breath: in for peace, out for letting go.
The Threads That Bind Us
Connection is more than shared space—it is woven through our stories and small gestures. Losing my father so young taught me that love endures past absence, and my mother’s strength showed me how care can lift an entire family, generation after generation. When I pause in meditation, I think of those invisible threads linking every life. This week, notice the people who taught you resilience, and reflect on how your story touches others. We are all stitched together in sometimes quiet, always meaningful ways.
The Gift of Light-Heartedness
There is strength in lightness, even in difficult moments. My mother, always quick with laughter, reminded me that joy and seriousness can coexist. Meditation can help us hold challenges gently, breathing in hope with each inhale and releasing tension on the exhale. Invite playfulness this week—smile at your own reflection, share a joke, or let yourself enjoy a favorite memory. Light-heartedness makes burdens lighter and connection deeper.
The Power of Small Goodness – Self-Compassion and Progress
Self-compassion starts with little acts of kindness that often go unseen. For me, it is sometimes found in a brief pause after a hectic day, watching the soft glow of a candle and letting go of expectations. Those few minutes of quiet help me remember: progress is not about grand gestures, but about allowing gentleness into daily life. Nursing has taught me that compassion for others is strongest when it begins within. Whether ending the evening sitting quietly by candlelight, journaling, or simply reflecting, these rituals remind me to be patient with myself. This week, notice one small act of goodness you offer yourself, perhaps as simple as the comfort of a candle’s flame. Let that kindness ripple outward. Together, we are learning that caring for ourselves makes it possible to truly care for others.
Savoring Presence – Finding Mindfulness in Everyday Rituals
Mindfulness happens in the ordinary, not only in the special moments we plan. One way I invite presence into my days is by lighting a candle at daybreak or dusk and simply watching the flame. It is easy to rush; the soft light encourages me to slow down, breathe, and appreciate the “now.” In nursing, the smallest moments, like pausing for a quiet break in a busy shift, have kept me steady. At home, a candle on the windowsill turns simple time into a gentle ritual. This week, try letting a candle be your touchstone for returning to the present, especially when life feels especially scattered. These honest pauses are enough
Nourishing Boundaries – Saying Yes to Yourself
As a nurse, the instinct to care can spill into every corner of life, making boundaries feel difficult. Yet, I have found that my well-being flourishes where I create space for personal care. One quiet evening ritual I practice is lighting a candle and letting the gentle flicker remind me to pause and reflect. The warm glow sets a boundary between the day’s demands and my own moments of restoration. Sometimes, simply sitting in silence by candlelight, with a cup of tea in hand, allows me to reset and renew. This week, allow small rituals, maybe the light of a candle at sunset, to help you honor your needs and gently guide each “yes” or “no.” Boundaries are built from these mindful pauses, and with every one, your sense of self is quietly strengthened.
Finding Light in Small Rituals: A Nurse’s Reflection from Aurum Garland
Lightkeeper is a nurturing wellness blog written by a nurse and founder of Aurum Garland. Each week explores an authentic theme such as boundaries, mindful presence, and self-compassion through gentle personal rituals and moments of reflection, often anchored by the soothing glow of candles. Drawing on experience in nursing, the blog blends vulnerability, direct self-leadership, and practical wisdom to guide readers in caring for themselves from the inside out. The focus is on honest self-care, small acts of kindness, and building resilience through everyday moments.
Some truths are simple. Life makes them hard. After decades as a nurse and a director in healthcare quality, I thought I understood self-care. Then, leading others through their darkest moments taught me how deeply the small ways we care for ourselves matter just as much as the big ones.
As the founder of Aurum Garland, with hands that have both healed and comforted patients through joy and loss, belonging starts with ourselves first. It is easy to put off care when urgency, achievement, and even guilt start to pile up. There is one lesson that comes from both nursing practice and the countless stories my community brings to the studio: self-care isn't selfish. It is stewardship.
Every handmade soap and soy candle at Aurum Garland gently resists a world that values hustle over heart. After a long shift, entering the studio to measure, blend, and pour becomes an anchor for me. The scents of fir needle, citrus, or lavender do more than fragrance the air. They remind us we can claim a few moments of peace within chaos. Small rituals, practiced with intention, root us in something real.
Brené Brown teaches that showing up imperfectly is better than waiting for perfect. Mistakes happen to nurses, caregivers, and everyone else. Vulnerability is not weakness. It is the path to courage. Courage sometimes means admitting we need to slow down and trusting that each little ritual, whether lighting a candle, lathering with handmade soap, or taking a walk, really is enough.
Gary John Bishop’s directness speaks to me: no one is coming to rescue us. If wellness matters, it is time to stop old stories that say we do not have enough time, or do not deserve care. Choose a ritual, however small, and own it. Life does not slow down unless we set boundaries and claim these small joys for ourselves.
Cy Wakeman stresses radical accountability. That applies not just to patient outcomes but to our own well-being. Accountability begins and ends in how we structure our everyday lives and the rituals we create and protect. Real change happens only when we take responsibility for those choices.
At this midweek wellness check-in, ask yourself: Where do you find your pause? When do you truly exhale? The answer might be simple. It could be the warmth of suds in your hand, the flicker of a candle’s flame after dark, or the first deep inhale of your favorite essential oil blend.
Allow your rituals to be imperfect and real. Let them be enough. By holding these moments close, you create a vibrant, more resilient self. That change arrives, one small intention at a time.
With warmth and resilience,
Garland, Nurse & Founder of Aurum Garland