Change – The Inevitable

Happy Holidays! By now, Christmas has come and gone, and you may find yourself in that post-holiday haze, wondering: What day is it? Should I take a shower today? How many cookies are too many? As we linger in this holding pattern before New Year’s, we start to consider resolutions while reflecting on the past year—celebrating growth, acknowledging areas for improvement, and recognizing the changes we've navigated.

Nine years ago, on December 23, 2015, my life was turned upside down when my father was taken from us far too soon. Since then, my family and I have experienced monumental changes that have often been challenging to adapt to. Change is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. As I reflect on the past year, I remind myself to honor the changes—both good and bad. I give myself permission to sit with the moments I wish I had handled better and to celebrate the small wins along the way.

This Christmas, my husband and I had the opportunity to host his family—something we hadn’t done in several years. It was wonderful to be together, but as with any gathering, having multiple people under one roof for a week brought its own challenges. And that’s okay. It’s okay to argue, to move forward in a way that feels healthy, and most importantly, to continue loving each other through the changes.

In a special moment, we stood together in a circle with Christmas poppers, honoring my late father-in-law, Bryan, whom we dearly miss, while also welcoming new faces into our family. We’ll never be able to fill the chairs of loved ones who are no longer with us, but we can make room for new ones.

As we step into 2025, my word of the year is change. It’s something I haven’t always handled well, but it’s been a constant in my life. This year, I aim to adapt and navigate it with grace. I’m incredibly thankful for the chance to grow Serenity Roast and am excited to see the community and individuals we’ll support in the year ahead.

The future is bright, change is inevitable, and I’m a work in progress.

Cheers,

Michelle