Two weeks ago, I wrote about my love for Christmas — the joy, the chaos, the traditions, the laughter, the food, and yes … The Grinch (always The Grinch). And if we’re being honest, it was easy to love Christmas then. The lights were fresh, the music hadn’t worn out its welcome, and most of us were still pretending we weren’t tired.

Now we’re deeper in. It’s Christmas Eve already!

This is the part of the season where the shine dulls just enough for the truth to show up.

Where the schedules stack, the patience thins, and the emotional weight sneaks in wearing a Santa hat. And yet … this is exactly where Christmas does its best work.

Because what I mentioned before — love, family, fellowship, wellness — those aren’t surface-level ideas. They’re anchors. And this season tests how well we actually live them.

Let’s start with love. Not the Hallmark kind. The real kind. The kind that shows up when you’re exhausted.

The kind that bites your tongue, softens your tone, and chooses connection over being right.

Christmas has a funny way of exposing where our love is conditional, rushed, or transactional. And if we’re brave enough to notice that, it gives us a chance to grow it.

Then there’s family — the beautiful, complicated, sometimes loud, sometimes fragile ecosystem that shapes us.

Christmas doesn’t create family tension; it just shines a spotlight on what already exists.

Old dynamics reappear. Old roles resurface. And instead of running from it, this season invites us to meet it with maturity, boundaries, grace … and maybe a quick walk around the block when needed. Growth counts even when it’s quiet.

Fellowship hits differently this time of year. It’s the reminder that we’re not meant to do life — or wellness — alone.

The shared meals, the conversations, the laughter that lingers after the plates are cleared … all of it feeds us in ways no workout ever could.

Community is not a “nice to have” thing. It’s foundational. Always has been. We forgot that somewhere along the way.

And let’s talk about wellness, because this is where people get it twisted.

Wellness in this season is not perfection. It’s not punishment for enjoying food.

It’s not grinding through workouts fuelled by guilt. It’s knowing when to move, when to rest, when to say yes, and when to say no — without explaining yourself.

True wellness honours the season you’re in. And right now, the season calls for balance, flexibility, and a little compassion.

This is where my Grinch loyalty really makes sense. He didn’t need a stricter routine.

The Grinch didn’t need more discipline. He needed connection. Belonging. A reminder that he mattered. And isn’t that the quiet lesson of Christmas? That when hearts soften, everything else follows?

Two weeks later, I still love Christmas. But now I love it for what it reveals, not just what it offers.

I love how it asks us to slow down without stopping. To reflect without judgment. To take stock without shame.

To carry the best parts of the season forward — long after the decorations come down.

So as we move through the rest of December, I’ll ask you the same thing I’m asking myself:

What do you want to keep from this season? Not just the traditions … but the perspective, the connection, the gentler pace.

Because if we’re honest, that’s the kind of fitness — emotional, mental, and physical — that lasts well beyond Christmas.

Happy holidays and Christmas Eve fitfam! As usual, remain unapologetic about your entire fitness and wellness journey, stay true to yourself and always be honest with your efforts.

I'm looking forward to writing more on the other side of 2026! See you then!

• Dre Hinds is a personal trainer, aerobic and yoga instructor and fitness “addict” with more than 20 years’ experience. She specialises in nutrition, weight and sprint training, operating out of HindsSight Fitness and Wellness at the Berkeley Cultural Centre. Contact her at absbydre@gmail.com or on 599-6683. Find her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram under @Absbydre