Happy New Year !
As we step into a new year, I want to pause and acknowledge something that often gets skipped over: for many of us, the holiday season didn’t go as planned. Maybe there was illness that made its way through your house, grief that felt heavier than expected, schedules that completely unraveled, or children who seemed to fight more the moment everyone
was home together. Maybe there were moments of joy mixed with exhaustion—and yes, probably more charcuterie boards and Christmas cookies than anyone originally intended (possibly speaking from personal experience ahemmmm...)
If that was your experience, you’re not alone. The transition into a new year can carry a lot of pressure—pressure
to reset, to be better, to make up for what didn’t happen or didn’t go well. But at Authentic Connections, we want to offer something different as this year begins: an invitation to start again gently.
Rather than resolutions, we’re inviting a focus on intention. Intentions don’t demand perfection or overnight change. They
create space for reflection, flexibility, and self-compassion. They allow us to honor where we are right now—tired, hopeful, grieving, motivated, or somewhere in between—and to move forward in ways that feel supportive and sustainable.
This is a season to reflect on what you may need to release, what you want to carry with you, and what deserves
more care and attention in the months ahead. There’s no rush and no right way to begin again. Just a quiet invitation to align with what matters most to you as you step into this new year.
Warmly,
Dawn
Gabriel
CEO and Founder of Authentic Connections Counseling
