By Dana Nicole Roberto, Your Midlife Madame of Clarity & Calm There’s something about December that puts life into high-definition. The calendars fill, the lists get longer, the pace quickens — and suddenly everyone is sprinting toward the finish line of a year they haven’t even had time to process. The holidays carry this unspoken expectation that we should be joyful, energized, social, and organized… all at once. Meanwhile, most people are quietly navigating something else:

There comes a moment when staying where you are feels heavier than taking the risk to grow. You know it. You feel it in the pit of your stomach, it's that tug that keeps whispering, “It’s time.” But here’s the truth most people avoid: Your next chapter isn’t waiting for perfection. It’s waiting for permission — yours. Maybe you’ve been circling the same decision for months. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself “next week” will magically feel easier. Maybe you’re overwhelmed, tired

I realized something recently. I was doing all the things  — the tasks, the errands, the “productive” stuff. My to-do list was cheering, “Great job!” Meanwhile, my spirit was whispering, “Yeah… no.” I was sleeping, but not resting. Moving through the day, but not connected  to any of it. Checking boxes like a champ, yet feeling absolutely nothing. That’s when I finally stopped and listened to my intuition, the part of me that actually knows what I need, not what I should  nee