The Christmas Stocking No One Notices

As Christmas gets closer, I keep thinking about an article I read recently about why so many moms wake up on Christmas morning to empty stockings.

Not because they were forgotten but because they were the ones behind the scenes creating the magic.

They planned.
They noticed.
They smoothed things over.
They held it all together so everyone else could experience the joy.

And it struck me how familiar that feels.

Not only because I'm a mom, but because if you lead change formally or informally you often play a very similar role.

You become the person people come to when things feel messy.
When decisions are unclear.
When emotions are high.
When something important is breaking, shifting, or uncertain.

You didn’t apply for that role.
You weren’t handed a title for it.
You just… showed up.

You translate complexity into something people can work with.
You absorb anxiety so others can keep moving.
You help create momentum without needing credit.
And when it works, it often looks effortless, like it just happened.

"Magic" - the kind that only looks effortless from the outside.

But we both know it’s not magic.
It’s care.
It’s judgment.
It’s experience.
It’s emotional labor.
It’s leadership that never makes it onto a slide.

So this week, I want to pause and name something I’m genuinely grateful for:

The unexpected roles we carry and carry well.

The role of calm.
The role of connector.
The role of steady presence when things wobble.

If your “stocking” feels a little empty some days, it doesn’t mean your work didn’t matter.

It often means you were too busy making sure everyone else felt supported, clear, and safe enough to move forward.

As we head into the holidays and the new year, my wish for you is this:

➡️That you notice your own impact, especially when it’s quiet.
➡️That you let yourself receive a little of the care you give so freely.
➡️And that you remember: the magic doesn’t happen without you.

A gentle reflection (only if it feels right)

• Where did you create calm or clarity this year without being asked?

• Who benefited from your steadiness, even if they never said it out loud

What I'm loving...🩵  

A human-approved tip:   

🫶 Appreciation: Before the year ends, send one simple “thinking of you” message to someone you quietly supported this year. No context. No ask. Just appreciation.

A simple pleasure:

🕯️Scented Candles:  Lighting a scented candle - especially something grounding like the Eucalyptus Spearmint Stress Relief candle from Bath & Body Works and letting yourself slow down for a few minutes.

 To listen or read:

📖Read: If you have some quiet time to yourself, consider reading The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig - this work of fiction is a gentle reminder of how much mindset shapes how we experience change.

🎬Watch: If you’re with family, the Pixar movie, Inside Out is playful, wise, and surprisingly spot-on about how our inner stories shape how we show up.

Before I go...

I'll be pausing next week's edition of the Change Anchor so I can focus on family and will pick back up in January.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a stocking that feels a little more seen.

Warmly,

Heather