Wrapping our community in love this festive season

To say 2020 has been challenging is an understatement, and I don’t think I’m alone when I say I’m hoping 2021 will be a  much calmer, predictable and safer year for everyone. 

I know the pandemic is far from over and many small businesses all over the world are still struggling to make the shifts needed to thrive in a new, more digital world. The good news is that small business owners are a resilient and innovative bunch, and when restrictions start to lift, we know they bounce back quite quickly. Check out the October results from Xero’s Small Business Insights for more information on the recovery.

That said, they need our continued support, and in my part of the world the upcoming holiday period is the perfect time to buy local, eat local and spend locally in support of communities that need us to wrap them in love. 

I’ve reflected on some of the more positive things to have come out of a ‘pandemic’ year like having spent much more time at home with my family, telling family and friends how much I love them more often, and appreciating my mum even more after spending long periods of time apart from her.  

After hectic weeks during COVID lockdown, I managed to find the time on weekends to hit the ‘refresh’ button and I spent time reading, listening and watching Netflix. With the festive season just around the corner, I thought I’d share my favourite books, podcasts and TV series in the hope that you might enjoy them as much as I have. 

I’d love to hear your thoughts about any recommendations I should add to my list for the Christmas break. 

Podcasts

• Julia Baird on finding shards of light in dark times
• Glennon Doyle's Life Was Totally Upended In A Single Evening
• The One Thing Julia Gillard Wished She’d Done Differently
• Moving from you to you 2.0 with Craig Harper

Books:

• A Little Life - Hugely moving.  An insightful look at human relationships
• The Art of Dancing in the Rain - a beautiful novel for the whole family to read about the family dog.  Sounds naff but one of my favourites and in fact a favourite of the whole family.
• The Monk who Sold his Ferrari - a wise fable about living with courage and abundance

TV:

• Michelle Obama Becoming https://www.netflix.com/au/title/81122487 -
• Big Little Lies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU5vQvxGjog
• The Split https://iview.abc.net.au/show/split 

Take care this Christmas - rest, relax and nourish yourself - it’s been a big year and we all deserve the break.   See you on the flip side :-)