When the Glow Dims: Finding Light in a Heavy February

February felt heavier than usual.

After returning from Japan—a trip filled with cultural richness, family celebrations, and deep connection—I expected to glide back into my routine with a full heart. But coming home to winter in New York was jarring. The cold was biting. The days felt short. And the city, which I usually love for its energy and rhythm, felt overwhelming and unkind. I also missed the quiet life of the trip, the excitement of discovering new things, and the bubble of togetherness that often fades when “real life” resumes.

Emotionally, I felt a little untethered.

I missed my family in Canada—especially my grandkids. For the first time, I missed my grand-daughter’s birthday and my grandson’s first Christmas. Thankfully there is Facetime. There’s something about the way they light up a screen, how their voices cut through distance and bring me right back to who I am: Nana.

And yet, I wasn’t alone. I had my husband, my stepson and his wife, and our grandson here in New York. We shared warm meals, stories, laughter. But even surrounded by love, I still had to admit—I felt a little off.

So I let myself feel it.

And then, I slowly found ways to soften the edges of that heaviness. I lit my favorite candles and let their soft glow soothe the spaces around me. I listened to upbeat music on my commute—not because I felt joyful, but because I needed something to lift me until I could lift myself. I scheduled more FaceTime calls with my grandkids in Canada and let their joy fill my living room. I also hugged my New York grandson more.

These were small things. But they mattered.

One thing I’ve learned as I approach 60 is that vulnerability doesn’t make you weak—it deepens your capacity to live fully. You can feel homesick and grateful at the same time. You can be surrounded by love and still long for more. And you can be the strong one and still need a little extra light some days.

To Be Daniella is about honoring all of that.

If you’re reading this and February left you feeling a little low, please know you’re not alone. Life isn’t always soft and sparkling. But there’s beauty in the way we care for ourselves during the darker moments. That’s where grace lives.

Here’s to warmer days, gentler rhythms, and the quiet resilience that gets us through.

With heart,
Daniella