As much as we all love the holiday season, it really can be a mixed bag. There’s joy… but there’s also pressure. There are celebrations… but sometimes there’s loneliness. There’s excitement… and then there’s the stress, the noise, the juggling, and the 'I just need five minutes to myself' feeling. And honestly, this is when our resilience gets tested the most. It’s also when our support networks matter more than ever. Over the years, I’ve learned that resilience isn’t something we magically build by ourselves. It comes from the people who show up, check in, and make life feel a little lighter. The ones who remind us we don’t have to carry everything alone. Even now, living with MND, my support network is one of the biggest reasons I can keep doing what I love. The people in my corner keep me grounded, calm and hopeful, especially when life gets noisy or overwhelming… which the holidays often are. So as we get closer to the end of the year, I want to encourage you to take a moment and think about your own support network. Not in a formal way. Just a simple check-in with yourself: Who helps you feel safe? Who lifts your energy? Who actually listens? Who do you feel like 'you' around? And just as important…Who do you support? Where do you show up for others? Where could you offer a bit more kindness or connection? The holidays are a great time to strengthen these bonds. It doesn’t need to be anything big... it could be a quick message, a coffee catch-up, a walk, a thank-you, or simply saying 'yes' when someone offers help. Strong relationships give us the safety net we need, and that safety net makes resilience so much easier to access. You don’t have to be strong all the time. You just need people who remind you you’re not alone. So this season, aim for connection, not perfection… your resilience will thank you. Who’s one person you’d like to reconnect with or lean on a little more these holidays?

We all know movement is one of the pillars of feeling strong, energised, and alive. But the holiday season has a funny way of derailing even the best of routines. Between social events, end-of-year rush, extra food, late nights, and the general “I’ll get back on track in January” thinking, it’s easy to let movement slide without even realising it. But this is actually one of the most important times to keep moving. Not for weight loss. Not to “earn” your food. Not to smash out big workouts or punish yourself. But simply because your body and nervous system need it. Movement is one of the quickest ways to: • lower stress • improve your sleep • calm your mind • lift your mood • strengthen your immune system • keep your energy steady (so you don’t feel wiped out by all the end-of-year chaos) And let's not get too caught up in thinking it needs to be perfect or structured. My motto during the holidays is "something is better than nothing!". A 10-minute walk, gentle stretching, dancing in the kitchen, a slow swim, marching on the spot, moving your body in a way that feels good - it all counts. You don’t need to 'train'. You just need to move. So as we head into the festive season, let’s think about movement as one of the best gifts we can give ourselves... a way to stay grounded, calm, and connected to our energy. What’s one simple way you can keep your body moving over the next few weeks?