The Countdown That Matters

Finding joy in the waiting

Every December, our house fills with tiny rituals that help us count down the days until Christmas.

This year we have an Advent candle that burns just a little bit lower each night, the wax slowly melting its way toward the number “25.” My kids love watching it inch closer, sometimes asking if they can stay up just a few extra minutes to see the flame hit the next line.

They also have a Harry Potter LEGO Advent calendar they open together every morning. The daily reveal feels like a little burst of magic…one tiny piece that eventually becomes something bigger. And each evening, my youngest performs a full Nutcracker retelling with our paper-doll Advent calendar, placing one new character into the scene and narrating the next part of the story like she’s on stage at a Broadway theater.

It’s sweet and chaotic and beautiful.
And this year, it’s reminded me so much of my weight-loss journey.

With all the hullabaloo around counting down to Christmas, it’s easy to look at weight loss the same way. Like you’re just waiting for the “big day.” That moment you finally hit your goal weight. You imagine bells ringing, angels singing, maybe even a small choir of woodland creatures applauding your efforts.

But here’s the truth: that number on the scale is arbitrary.
Reaching it isn’t the prize.

Just like Christmas isn’t really about the candle hitting “25” or opening that last Advent door, the real beauty is in the daily moments leading up to it. The small things. The rituals. The choices. The tiny joys. The quiet consistency.

When I got to my goal weight after losing 125 pounds, it didn’t feel like a “big day.”
It felt like… Tuesday.

Because the journey, not the number, had already changed me.

All those days I chose to walk.
All the meals where I listened to my hunger.
All the moments where I slowed down enough to ask, “What do I need right now?”
That was the transformation.
Not the number.

So, if you’re in the middle of your journey, I want you to know this:
You’re not waiting for your real life to begin.
You’re already in it.
You’re already doing the thing.

Soak it in. Be present. Find joy in the little choices you’re making every day.
Because those choices, not the finish line, are what create a life you love living.

And if you need a little encouragement today, I just posted a new video on YouTube about the GLP-1 weight loss “rules” I didn’t follow…the myths I let go of, the pressure I ignored, and what actually mattered in my 125-pound transformation.

If you ever feel overwhelmed by all the advice out there, this one is for you.

👉 Watch the video here:

I hope it brings you a little peace and a whole lot of permission to do this your own way.

Here’s to the countdowns, the quiet moments, and the small things daily that add up to a life transformed. 💛