Ending is beginning.

Most of my Decembers have been in Canada, this is one of the few I’ve spent in Pakistan. I thought Winter would be easier in a warmer country and in many ways it is, but the air is much dryer in Karachi than in Toronto which is a very new challenge. To add to that, after a long time I got sick and given how many airports I’ve been through this year it’s interesting for it to happen when I’m feeling more settled.

I guess that’s usually when things get us because our defences are finally down.

The last time I was on a bed of my own and in a room of my own was January this year before I was forced out of my rental in Toronto. Since January I’ve slept in over 13 “beds”. On couches and beds of family and friends, to hostels and hotels, and a shared room on a farm in Vietnam.

Before I sound ungrateful, I loved all my travels this year, however the one thing I haven’t mastered yet is how to “create in movement”.

To create I rely on stillness, slowness, and feeling what’s coming through me.

Perhaps the more I create the more nimble I’ll become and I won’t feel so torn when life calls me to travel because right now traveling makes me feel like my creativity has to take a pause.

As I’m writing this I’m realizing maybe part of me doesn’t fully trust enough to let the creation happen as it’s happening and the slowness is a way for me to feel in control of what is being created rather than just allowing it to be as it is.

Before you get too sentimental and think about how horrible life must be for them, just consider that we all live like this in some way.

Instead of living without a roof, we live without community.
Instead of poor air quality we have poor food quality.

I frame it like this not to encourage you to lose empathy for those in need, but because the world is full of people in need, yourself included. You will constantly be reminded of how many problems there are in the world and because “it could be worse” you shouldn’t complain about your pains. This is bullshit. You can care about more than one thing and your problems aren’t any less just because they can’t be seen a simple photo like the one I showed you.

Things are not what they seem and nothing is ever just one thing.

We are all here to do something that only we can do. Make sure you’re making good on that because there are endless problems, distractions, and opportunities in this world and you’re not here to solve every problem.

Don’t get distracted from your mission.

If you’ve made it this far I want to leave you with a gift. December is that kind of a month where some of us feel more stressed, or alone, or anxious.

So I’ve been enjoying these audios by Anandi Sano that guide me into a different relationship to reality. If you ever feel like you’re stuck in your perspective longer than you’re enjoying it, give it a listen.

And, if you’ve missed any of my previous emails you can view all my past newsletters online.

I have really enjoyed having a consistent practice of showing up in a small way through this newsletter. Due to many reasons I struggle to have a consistent output with anything, but I’m glad to have found a medium and pace that suits me.

I’ll be back in your inbox in 2026. As usual, you’ll hear from me from the first Sunday of each month.

Happy New Year!