Finding Light in tough times

There are years that test you. The kind that feel like you’ve been shoved into a boxing ring you didn’t sign up for, with round after round of unexpected blows. 2025 was supposed to be my year. My motto was “2025 and ready to thrive!" If you know me, you know I’m an overthinking, self-talking, “give it 120%” kind of person. But January had other plans, and 2025 has quickly become about finding the light in tough times.

The Unexpected Turns

What started as hopeful momentum quickly turned into a corporate gut-punch. Decisions get made in rooms you weren’t invited into, and the fallout lands squarely on your plate. Since then, it’s been one knock after another, enough to make me question everything: work, loyalty, even myself. And that’s the part I hate to admit. I was raised to believe that hard work and dedication eventually shine through.

That belief came from my dad. He was one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known. I was born when he worked in the mines of Scotland, and he later built his own taxi business back home. I remember one morning as a teenager, up early to set the breakfast table for my six siblings. There he was, sitting in his rocking chair. His stress was written across his face. He’d just been denied the medical renewal for his transport license. I could see the weight of it: a man responsible for seven kids and my mum, suddenly unsure how he would provide.

Carrying Memories

I’ve carried that memory with me these past months. That same heaviness, the stress of decisions made beyond your control, has sat with me too. Yet, my dad didn’t stay in that rocking chair. He got up. He stayed busy. He cut a neighbor’s grass. He pulled weeds. He helped people where he could. Before long, word of mouth turned into work, and work turned into another business. His lesson was simple: when life knocks you flat, find a way to stand, even if it’s by helping someone else.

Maybe that’s why, when I feel overwhelmed, I light a candle. There’s something centering about it—the flicker of the flame, the scent curling through the room, the small ritual that says, “breathe, you’re still here.” Every time I strike the match, I wish I could go back to that morning with my dad and tell him, “It will be okay. I’m proud to be your daughter.”

Embracing the Light

So if you’re having one of those days—the kind where life feels unfair, decisions sting, and the weight is too much—light a candle. Throw your little light out into the world. Let it remind you that work setbacks aren’t personal, even if they feel like it in the moment. Let it go, as best you can.

And if you’re wondering what to light, here are the scents I reach for when life insists on testing me:

• Palo Santo & Sandalwood – My go-to when my brain won’t shut up. It smells like I’m about to get my life together (whether I actually do is another story). There’s something grounding about it, like being reminded to plant your feet and breathe.

• Verbena Citronella – Bright, sharp, and just cheeky enough to cut through the doom and gloom. It’s the scent equivalent of someone grabbing your shoulders, giving you a good shake, and saying, “Alright, enough of that nonsense.”

• Black Currant – Deep, tart, a little moody—perfect for the days when you want to sulk but also feel a touch dramatic about it. Light this one, and suddenly you’re the main character in your own story instead of the poor sod being trampled by it.

• Hearthstone – My personal favorite. It’s warm, smoky, and feels like sitting by the fire in your comfiest chair while the world outside throws its tantrums. If ever there was a scent that whispered, “You’re home, you’re safe, you’ve got this,” this is it.

  
  

Because at the end of the day, lighting a candle doesn’t fix the chaos, but it does remind you that even in the knockdowns, you can still claim a little bit of calm, a flicker of hope, and maybe even a laugh at the absurdity of it all.

Finding Your Rituals

And if all else fails, put the kettle on, call it a day, and remember, there’s not much in life that can’t be softened with a strong cup of tea and a bit of light from a good candle.

✨ What about you? We all have our own ways of finding light in tough times—whether it’s lighting a candle, brewing tea, walking the dog, or something entirely unique. I’d love to hear your stories and rituals. Share them in the comments below, so we can remind each other that even in the knockdowns, there’s always a spark worth holding onto.