Some things that made me smile in… December 2024

Including Magic at Kew, untold stories brought to light and reflecting on the year

Magical lights at Kew Gardens ✨

If you’re a regular here, welcome back! If you’re new, this is my round up of some of the things that have made me smile over the past month. Please feel free to share in the comments anything that’s brought you joy too, whether big or small! Are you currently a free subscriber but would like to upgrade? You can do that here.

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Do you, like me, feel that 2024 has whizzed by?

It’s been ‘funny’ old month and year.

As I write this, during that time between Christmas and New Year I’m feeling reflective and reminding myself that grief and joy can co-exist. And that it’s okay.

It’s been a subdued month and I’m grateful for being able to have some quiet time in a quieter than normal city as this year comes to a close.

Here’s a few things that made me smile during December.

The words of Nikki Giovanni and reflecting on 2024

I think the first time I heard of Nikki Giovanni was via The Oprah Winfrey Show. I used to watch the show religiously (on Channel 4 here in the UK) on afternoons after getting home from school and it was hearing Oprah quote lines from Nikki Giovanni poems that led me to seek those poems out when I was younger.

I was saddened to hear of her passing earlier this month. I wanted to share just a little of Nikki Giovanni’s wisdom and words here.

(If you know the interview this clip is from, please let me know in the comments so that I can credit. I will happily share a link and would love to be able to watch it in full.)

The video clip above makes me smile, but I also like it because it reminds me of my determination to find a bit of joy in each day and to not ‘save things for best.’

Related to this, I’m not one for resolutions though I did decide to download the YearCompass this month. I haven’t filled out the section for the year ahead, but I did go through the past year section, as I’ve felt the need to properly reflect on 2024.

There is a page that invites you to go through your calendar for the past year week by week - this was easy for me as I still keep a paper diary - and I learned that though 2024 has not been the best of years for me, something I have been able to do, even in the worst weeks is consistently find pockets of joy.

I found this really helpful for processing the past year and being okay with not heading into 2025 raring to go. As I’ve said before, for me the new year starts in March.

These words from Rachel Cargle resonate:

You can download the YearCompass for free here.

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I wasn’t feeling Christmassy…

Until, a few days before Christmas when, courtesy of good friends I visited Christmas at Kew for the first time. The magical creative light displays dispelled my inner Grinch and lifted my spirits.

It’s not possible to capture the magnificence of the lights on camera, but that didn’t stop me from trying. Here’s a little snippet of one of the installations:

Huge, huge thanks to my friends for my first experience of Christmas at Kew, the marvellous mulled wine and the belly laughs.

Find out more about Christmas at Kew and look out for 2025 info when it’s available here.

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The Six Triple Eight

Last month I was moved by a story set in WWII, and this month a true story, again set during WWII had me thinking about it long after watching.

“They did not send us because they thought we could do it. We are here because they are sure we cannot.” - Lt. Col. Captain Charity Adams

There seems to be a pattern of hidden stories, experiences, perspectives and figures from (often recent) history finally coming to light. Until I saw Kerry Washington and Tyler Perry doing press interviews on TV, I had never heard of the 6888.

Led by Lt. Col. Captain Charity Adams, the 6888 was the only all-female African-American battalion in the U.S. Women’s Army Core to serve in Europe during the Second World War.

Mail was the only way for serving soldiers and their loved ones to communicate with each other, but for months on end no mail had been received. In February 1945 the battalion were sent to England to address the backlog of what turned out to be an estimated 17 million items of undelivered mail - a task that was believed to be an impossible.

This mission was undertaken at The King Edward School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, which is now a high school for girls. It’s good to know that the students there have learned about these inspiring women and this part of their school’s history. Some of the students and staff were also invited to a special screening of the film.

I think about the enormity of what these incredible women did in the face of so much adversity and resistance. And the remarkable Lt. Col. Captain Charity Adams who would have been 26 years old at the time.

I don’t want to give any spoilers but if you have access to Netflix, I urge you to watch The Six Triple Eight if you haven’t already.

Last but not least, this month’s kitchen dance track…

…is inspired by my Spotify Unwrapped which told me I apparently had my Coastal Grandmother Throwback R&B Neo Soul moment during the summer, listening to artists like Chaka Khan, Laura Mvula, Angie Stone and Maxwell.

This song lifts my mood at any time of year:

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Over to you:

• What’s made you smile during December?

• How has 2024 been for you?
  
  I’d love to know.