Like… I know the holidays are supposed to be this big cinematic thing with perfect lights, perfect cookies, perfect vibes, and a choir of angels harmonizing every time you open the fridge. But my Christmas this year is basically powered by tiny victories. Micro-miracles. Little “hey, I’m actually doing okay” moments. I found tape on the first try. No “where’s the tape??” scavenger hunt. Just… tape. Existing. In my house. Like a responsible adult lives here. I wrapped a present and the paper didn’t rip once. Not even a corner. I’m not saying I’m Santa… but I’m also not not Santa. I made hot cocoa and didn’t forget it in the microwave. (Last week I discovered a mug in there that had basically turned into a museum exhibit.) I only burnt one batch of cookies. The other batch is “golden brown” which is a fancy way of saying “I stared at the oven like a lifeguard and fought for their lives.” I put on a Christmas playlist and didn’t instantly skip every song after 8 seconds. I let the jingles jingle. Growth. Also, I’m counting emotional tiny wins: I smiled at a stranger in the store instead of doing my usual “don’t perceive me” speed-walk. I didn’t spiral when I remembered I forgot someone. I just wrote it down like a calm person and thought, “I can fix that.” Who am I. I took a minute to just sit there with the tree lights on, doing absolutely nothing, and it actually felt… nice. No doom-scrolling. No guilt. Just me and the glow. And honestly? I think this is the version of Christmas I can actually keep. Not the giant, exhausting, everything-has-to-be-perfect holiday movie kind. The tiny-wins kind. The “I put on clean socks” kind. The “I didn’t argue with anyone in the group chat” kind. The “I remembered to thaw the thing” kind. The “I said thank you and meant it” kind. If you’re having a loud Christmas, cool. If you’re having a quiet Christmas, also cool. If your Christmas is basically you eating something festive near a lamp that could be a tree if you squint, then welcome to the club. Here’s to tiny wins. May your batteries be included, your candles not be lopsided, and your holiday stress stay in the single digits. And if nothing else: you made it to today. That counts. 🎄✨