Today, the new Christian liturgical year begins. It is time to prepare ourselves for the arrival of Jesus Christ. For us, it is the time to calm down. I picked this photo from our trip to Tuscany, medieval Roccatederighi. Just to remind myself how peaceful the time was there. Here in our struggling work-life balance, it is most of the time hard to find calmness.

I want to remind myself that whatever is on my to-do list, there are more critical things in our lives. Building up a relationship takes time and effort. You want to be present. Not just being physically present and solving work tasks in the background. Living the moment.

Last couple of years I have begun a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming with determinations.

This year, I have just one: to calm down and be quiet in the loud world. To be present with the friends I am lucky to have. To support my close friends.