February: A time to reflect, reset and reconnect

After the rush of January resolutions and the fast pace of everyday life, this month offers a gentle pause - a moment to reflect on the goals we set for ourselves. It’s the perfect time to check in, not just with our ambitions, but with our hearts.

What does love really mean to you?

Love is a powerful force. There’s the love that makes your stomach flutter, the love that feels electric and new. And then there is another kind of love, the kind that stays. This is the love that feels like home. The love that brings you your true soulmate.

For me, love has never been about grand declarations. I’m not the person who constantly says 'I love you'. But I will show my love in different ways, small actions of affection. I’m the person who will wake up in the middle of the night just to give you a hug. I’m the one who will stand at the door and wave until you’ve disappeared from sight. I’m the one who sits quietly beside you, holds your hand, and cries with you when words aren’t enough. I love through actions rather than words.

But I’ve also learned something important. It does matter to say it out loud. During my childhood I was never told ‘I love you’. Not until I found the right person – my husband. When we met, everything changed. He taught me not only how to hear those words, but how to say them.

A February reminder

As we near the end of the month, we should take a moment to reflect on our goals, relationships and how we give and receive love. Because love, in all its forms, is worth embracing; not just in February, but every single day.

How do you practice self-love in your daily life?

If I’m being honest, this is something I still struggle with. So many of us find it difficult to see our own worth We underestimate how much we mean to the people around us. We pour our energy into saying ‘yes’ to everything, stretching ourselves too thin, putting our own needs at the bottom of the list. We keep going until we eventually break. And every time I reach that breaking point, I remind myself that I need to take better care of myself. So instead of pretending I have all the answers, I’d rather invite you along for the journey. Let’s learn how to rest without guilt, learn how to say ‘no’ to things and learn how to see our own worth.

How do you stay motivated during the colder months?

February may be a month of love, but it can also be the month of winter blues. What gets me through? Chocolate! The best therapy is a chat over coffee with a good friend - you don’t need anything else. A problem shared truly is a problem halved. I also like to get active and I enjoy a really good walk. Even on a miserable rainy, grey day the fresh air can really clear your head. The wind and rain can really cleanse your soul.

How do you handle February stress and burnout?

The one thing I always say is: “God wouldn’t give you more to carry on your shoulders than you can manage so trust the process.” Last year I planted chives in a pot and my life was so busy that I forgot to tend to it. The pot was forgotten, all dried out. But a few days ago, I walked past it and in between all of the dried out bunches were a few sticks of chives trying to grow. Sometimes we don’t see the point of certain things that happen around us and we feel like we can’t manage any more. But under all of this negative thought is a light; small sparks of positivity that grow. We just need to be patient and believe. Believe in ourselves. Go with the flow, rest, sit back and wait. Then you will start again. There is a reason why there is a sunrise and sunset. Every day is a fresh start.

What one skill do you want to improve this year?

I never knew that one day I would be an author. I have really enjoyed writing my book. It is something that one day I would love to explore more. I would like to write something different to a baking book. So, in every spare moment this year I will concentrate on writing and improving this skill that I thankfully found because of all of you!

What is your favourite winter activity?

This might sound a little unusual, but I genuinely enjoy mending things. If something breaks at home, from a sock to an iron, I will put it aside to repair on a rainy day.

On those slow afternoons, when there’s nowhere to rush to and nothing urgent demanding attention, I’ll take everything out of the cupboard and see what can be repaired. It’s not always about saving money, it's about the satisfaction of trying to fix something that's broken. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but the process itself feels meaningful. Recently, my younger son asked if we had any electronics he could try to fix. That moment stayed with me. It showed me that he understands something important - the true value of the things we own.

What inspires me the most this month?

I have a sad but inspiring story. I can’t go into detail to protect the privacy of the family but I try my hardest to explain. I have a very old friend who I met over 15 years ago at work. We would bump into each other from time to time but back in December when I was in hospital with my eldest son, we bumped into her. She approached us with a big smile, checking why we were in hospital with genuine concern about my son. After wishing us all the best, she invited me to ring her for coffee if I ever needed a chat. It wasn’t until the end of our conversation that I asked her why she was there in hospital. I felt so selfish that I hadn’t asked. She had tears in her eyes when she explained. I can’t give you the details,  but I was gobsmacked when she told me what she and her child were going through. I felt awful that I had focused on my own worries. I got home and told my husband about this amazing woman and he told me to text her once my son was better. I was determined to do this and meet up with her as support but I was so overwhelmed with my son’s health, then the launch of my book and then I broke my arm, I didn’t get round to messaging her.  I was then back in hospital recently with my youngest son and while we were waiting for the surgical team, the door opened and in she walked pushing her child in a wheelchair. She greeted us with the biggest smile, again so positive and gave me a hug. Again she asked about us about how we were. But this time, I put my own worries aside and asked her how she was. She had just received the news that she could take her child home for an hour and was so excited. I promised myself then that I would do anything in my power to help. It is the hardest thing to witness your child struggling with health. You feel helpless. This woman was my inspiration; the strongest woman I have ever met in my life. She has not only inspired me this month but for the whole of my life.

February is a short month, but is powerful and serves as reflection and self-love. What have you learnt this month?