Let Them Shine Their Way

The holidays have a way of convincing us that joy should look a certain way — big laughs, loud excitement, perfectly timed smiles under perfectly timed lighting. But here’s the truth: not every sparkle is meant to blind you. Some are softer, quieter, and just as bright in their own steady way.

If you’ve ever worried that your child, partner, or loved one doesn’t seem as into it as everyone else, take heart — their way of shining might just look different. And that’s not a problem to fix; it’s a rhythm to honour.

Turns out, joy doesn’t need to be loud — just genuine (and maybe wearing fuzzy socks).

✨ One thing to remember
Everyone sparkles differently — some dazzle at center stage, others glow softly from the sidelines.
For neurodiverse individuals, that shine might not always look like excitement or big reactions. It might be quiet engagement, steady focus, or a calm presence in a noisy room.

When we stop measuring joy by volume or enthusiasm, we start to see it in the small, beautiful ways it’s already there.

✨ One thing to release
Release the urge to chase the “picture-perfect” moment.
The synchronized smiles, the everyone-loves-the-gift reaction, the Hallmark-level harmony — it’s a setup.
Real joy doesn’t always photograph well. Sometimes it’s found in the kid happily sorting wrapping paper while everyone else opens gifts, or the teen hiding under a blanket fort halfway through dinner.

You’re not missing the magic. You’re just witnessing it in its truest, most authentic form.

✨ One thing that may help today
Ask yourself: What does their version of joy look like?
Then make space for that. Maybe it’s a dimmer light, a shorter visit, or a quiet corner during the chaos.

Because the holidays aren’t about everyone shining the same — they’re about letting every kind of light have its place.
So go ahead: dim the expectations and let their glow lead the way.