Vibrant Days – December 2025

Embracing Advent: from Fear to Hope to Panic from Fear to Hope

As I reflect on the season of Advent I’m transported back to my childhood where each week brought a new candle on an Advent wreath symbolizing anticipation and a long mysterious journey. I’d read about shepherds following a great light and inching closer to some miracle with great news. As a child those moments of waiting were tempered by deep longing and anticipation knowing something wonderful was soon to appear and yet fear was present. Along the way an angel appeared mentioning this fear and also a level of peace no one had heard of.

Fast forward to this Advent season and I find myself distracted by incomprehensible news events and waiting on test results, igniting fear and disquieting dysregulation. Each moment appears to offer the choice to anticipate some wonderful news or dread what may happen. Not an easy way to live. When fear takes over it feels debilitating, many of you can relate. As my highly sensitive brain covers all scenarios I notice my energy also fluctuates. Then a beautiful side of our sensitivity–looking at the bigger picture, appears. Could I let this sinking panic rule my roost or go deeper so I begin to ponder (so much pondering!) Advent again and discover a glimpse that the waiting game is over and the great news has already arrived: all is well at the deepest level. I can lean into this and even feel eagerness into what is unfolding. As this field of vision impacts my energy I begin to spot synchronicities in daily life and tiny moments appear as gifts. The fear pops in as I reunite with my humanity. Talk about a journey.

I’m thinking of you and your journey and all that we are discovering together. Our nervous systems will forget that all is well so today let’s feed the birds and give them water and remind ourselves the great news has arrived.

~ Candy