Chapter Forty Three: Holiday Cheer

Moving through December feels like speed running the year. It is strange to suddenly be at the end when it felt like everything was just getting started. Time does that thing where it drags when you want it to move and then disappears when you want it to slow down. Lately, it has definitely been the second one.

Even though December usually brings a slowdown, professionally, I feel like I am trying to keep my rhythm. There is less external pressure, fewer meetings, and fewer urgent deadlines, which oddly gives me more space to think. I have noticed that when things quiet down, I want to keep working, keep building, and keep exploring ideas. Not in an unhealthy way, but more from curiosity. What could I try if I gave myself the space? What projects could I move forward with just because I care about them? At the same time, I am also learning how to let myself be a bit more relaxed without feeling like I am falling behind. That balance has been surprisingly good so far.

A lot of what has been on my mind lately is impact, especially within conservation. It is a hard space to hold when the world feels heavy with so many other issues competing for attention. Conservation is deeply interconnected with everything else. Water, food systems, communities, economies, and climate all sit together. Still, from a professional perspective, conservation often feels undervalued. It is a small industry, not always well funded, and not easy to break into. Most people who stay are deeply passionate because it rarely offers ease or financial security.

That reality raises bigger questions for me. How do you build a sustainable life while doing work that matters? How do budgets shape what is possible? Budgets can be empowering when they are aligned with strategy, but they can also quietly limit creativity. There are always ideas that feel exciting and meaningful, and then there is the reality of what can actually be supported. I find myself thinking more about how to match resources to impact, and how to be more strategic without losing the creative instinct that brought me here in the first place.

Looking ahead, I know I want to keep growing as someone who advocates thoughtfully, supports teams well, and helps build cultures rooted in care and collaboration. That feels like the direction I want to move toward in 2026. Less noise, more intention, and a stronger focus on enabling the people around me.

The Good
We visited one of the Christmas markets here, and it finally made the season feel real.

The Challenge
Letting myself slow down while still feeling motivated to grow and push forward.

What’s Next
Heading back to Toronto to spend the holidays with family. The next update will come from a different corner of the world.