I’m reminded of how diamonds are formed. The intense pressure and heat deep within the Earth that create something rare, durable, and beautiful over time. I wonder if this mirrors something in our human hard wiring that’s become nearly inaccessible in a world where escapism, numbing, and quick fixes are the balms we’ve created. What does it look like to really endure - to press on or press in and wait for the things that have irreplaceable value?
While the past couple of weeks were spent in my own, unexpected pressure cooker, I’m so grateful for the ability to remember endurance. Not only in this small business journey of the past 11.5 years, but the over-3-decades of watching my own immigrant, business-owning mother whose love for us not only poured out in home cooked meals after long days of work, but in the shape of the grit I now carry.
So this holiday season, I’m choosing to not get lost in all the twinkle and cheer, but to be more intentional about narrating the good and hard things for my girls. To remind them of where they’ve come from and the irreplaceable things that have already been etched into the webbing of who they are. These hard-earned diamonds, girls - what a gift to receive them, what an honor to steward them.
To the best version of merry and bright,
Pat
