As we reflect on the year gone by and prepare to welcome the next,
It's worth remembering the beautiful traditions that mark this season,
And one of them is Hanukkah.
Often called the festival of lights,
But at its heart,
Hanukkah is about miracles,
Both big and small.
The story of Hanukkah tells of a time when a single day's supply of oil miraculously burned for 8 days,
Which was long enough to rededicate the Jewish temple in Jerusalem over 2,
000 years ago.
It's a reminder that miracles aren't always loud or flashy,
Oftentimes they're small moments,
The kinds that we don't even notice until we look back and realize how much they mattered.
It could be the strength to get through a really tough time,
Or even a random encounter that you've had with a stranger that has changed everything.
The other day,
I was feeling low and uninspired.
It has definitely been a year for me.
I decided to head out on my own.
I was sitting at a local bar,
Enjoying a beer until someone I haven't met or seen in years tapped me on the shoulder and greeted me with his infectious positive energy.
To him,
It was a nice moment of bumping into an old friend.
To me,
It changed my night.
We reflected on some good times and he instantaneously made me feel better by saying nice things to me and sharing something that was incredible.
He told me that a good deed I did for him 20 years ago changed his life and was a huge catalyst to his current success.
This one interaction flipped my mood by 180 degrees and made me feel uplifted and inspired again.
That good deed I did for him 20 years ago created a ripple effect that inevitably resulted in rescuing me from a terrible day.
To me personally,
That was a miracle.
What would it feel like to welcome miracles into your own life?
Not just the kind that arrive out of nowhere,
But the ones you create when you trust yourself and step out of your comfort zone.
Hanukkah reminds us that light,
Even a small flame,
Has the power to grow and shine far beyond what we expect.
And you have that light within you too.
That's the amazing thing.
You're already carrying everything you need to welcome miracles into your life.
So as you move on into this new year,
Take a moment to think about what a miracle might actually look like for you.
Maybe it's finally taking a leap on something you've been dreaming about or healing from something painful.
It doesn't matter.
Nothing is too big and nothing is too small.
It's your own unique journey.
Whatever it is,
Let the story of Hanukkah inspire you.
Let it remind you to stay open to the unexpected,
To believe in hope and to trust your own light.
Because you know what,
Sometimes that's all it takes to create a little magic in your life.
Wishing you a year full of miracles,
Positivity and inspiration.
From my heart to yours.
Thank you.
