Choosing to Shine, Even on Melancholy Days!
Updated: Apr 10
I thought I would start this year a little differently, with something from the heart. Not a list of goals or resolutions, but an honest reflection. A moment to pause, to acknowledge the emotions that often come with new beginnings, and to recognise how life, responsibility, and experience can quietly change us over time.
As I wrote this, I was reminded of a poem that speaks about fear, light, and the courage it takes to step fully into who we are meant to be. Its message felt closely aligned with this reflection and the hope of beginning again with intention.
Today I cant help but feel a little melancholy.
Some days I wish I could go back to when we were kids, with no responsibilities, bright dreams and genuine happiness. A time before worries, pressures, or fears had a name, when our futures felt wide open and the light in our eyes came effortlessly. Back when we trusted easily, dreamt without limitations, and moved through life guided by curiosity rather than caution. Before decisions were shaped by survival, surroundings, comparison, or fear of getting it wrong, and when we believed we had time, time to grow, time to change, and time to become whoever we wanted to be, who we dreamt we’d be.
But then there was a moment we began to dim our own light. Not all at once, and not always by choice, but quietly, over time. Growing up has a way of teaching us to shrink ourselves to fit the weight we are carrying. Responsibilities pile up, expectations grow louder, and the fear of failure starts to shape our decisions. Comparison creeps in, measuring our worth against other people’s timelines, while illness, disappointment, or just trying to get through each day slowly dims that sparkle we once carried unknowingly. It’s not that the light disappeared, it’s that we tried to protect it, sometimes by hiding it away.
The truth is though, that light we once carried was never truly lost. It simply changed. Our glow now comes from resilience, being kind to ourselves and the wisdom gained through experience. Dreams may be quieter than they once were, but they are deeper, more intentional, and rooted in who we have become. Shining is no longer automatic. It has to be chosen each day. Choosing joy, rest, creativity, or belief is courageous. It is a deliberate act of protecting the light we once let burn so freely, even when life tries to dim it.
Shooting for the stars has also changed. It no longer means grand achievements, making family proud or perfect outcomes. Sometimes it means setting boundaries, starting over, dreaming small before dreaming big, or simply refusing to give up on yourself. Each small step of courage is still reaching, still aspiring, still aiming for something greater.
And we are not alone in this. When one person stops dimming their light, it gives others permission to do the same. Hope becomes contagious, and dreams feel safer when shared. In protecting and celebrating our own glow, we inspire others to do the same.
So even on the melancholy days, the stars are still visible. We can long for what was, reflect on what shaped us, and still reach for what is ahead. We are allowed to want more, to dream again, and to shine in ways that feel true to who we are now. May the joy, wonder, and happiness we once experienced as children return to us in new ways, and may blessings gently fall into place, lighting our paths and filling our hearts with hope.
May we carry our light boldly into this year, embracing each moment with hope, daring to dream without limits, and allowing the brightness of our hearts to guide us toward the joy, love, and wonder we have always deserved.
While writing this reflection, I was reminded of the poem below and its message about remembering our light and having the courage to let it shine.
Our Deepest Fear by Marianne Williamson.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small Does not serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, As children do.
We were born to make manifest The glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; It’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.”
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