Starting New Traditions with Christmas for Two

Plus, my top 6 books of 2023

Notes from a Kindred Spirit is a bi-weekly newsletter about embracing curiosity, exploring hobbies, living with chronic illness, and finding contentment in the everyday.

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Hi friends,

I hope you’re taking it slow this week and enjoying this time to reflect and plan for 2024.

My husband and I had a quiet Christmas with just the two of us and our dog, Chewie. Christmas for two isn't new to us as we had our first Christmas like this during the pandemic. And, now that we’ve moved to the island, we don’t live close to either of our families. My family lives closer, but they will be visiting us in January, so we opted not to deal with air travel!

Back in 2020, the thought of a Christmas with just the two of us seemed too low-key and quiet. But, over the last couple of years, we have embraced these quiet holidays and started some traditions of our own while still honouring the favourites from our childhoods.

For me, it isn’t Christmas unless I have chocolate fudge and lemon squares so I bake these every year. There also needs to be a Christmas or winter-themed puzzle in progress on the table! For my husband, it is traditional to watch family-favourite Christmas movies in the leadup to Christmas, so every year he chooses which movies the two of us will watch.

As a couple, it has now become our tradition to eat appetizers and play board games on Christmas Eve. This year, we played Chai and Codenames Duet. We also made our first attempt at baking soft pretzel bites and joked that Paul Hollywood would tell us that they taste great, but they’re not uniform and look a mess. 😂

Often, I don’t think we realize that we have the option to create new traditions of our own. But as we look ahead to 2024, we can think about what rituals or traditions we’d like to incorporate into our days/months/seasons/years. Do we want to be more intentional about celebrating birthdays or other milestones? Is there something fun we could do to mark the passing of the seasons? Is there a family tradition that has fallen away that you’d like to resurrect?

If you’re looking for inspiration, I recommend reading For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World by Sasha Sagan.

Have you started any new traditions with your family or friends?

❤️ Romance 

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune | Published in 2023

My Thoughts

I devoured this novel! I read Carley Fortune’s debut in only 5 days and finished this one in 6. Like the author did so well in Every Summer After, this novel is also structured with chapters set in the past alternating with chapters set in the present day. This structure makes her novels compulsively readable and her characters only add to that need to keep reading. The book also touches on some important themes such as grief and anxiety, but does so in a tasteful and authentic way. I loved watching adult Fern learn more about herself and grow over the course of the novel. The Canadian Easter eggs were so fun too! I can’t wait for Carley Fortune’s next romance!

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert | Published in 2019

My Thoughts

This was my first Talia Hibbert book, and I definitely plan to read more! I’m all for a steamy book with disability rep, and this is a perfect example of one! It was so satisfying to watch both Chloe and Red grow throughout the novel. It felt like a realistic portrayal of what it means to be in a relationship when both people have issues to work on but are committed to doing the work. And, the sarcastic British humour was hilarious - I especially loved Chloe’s grandmother, Gigi. I’m looking forward to the next one in the trilogy!

🖋 Non-Fiction

Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist by Judith Heumann | Published in 2020

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved this book! Judith’s indomitable spirit shines through as she recounts her years of activism alongside many other courageous individuals and the milestones they were able to achieve for people with disabilities. From a sit-in at a federal building in San Francisco in the late seventies to her position in the Obama administration in the 2010s, she gives great insight into what it takes to be an activist, how to mobilize and unite other activists, and the power of the collective. I highlighted several memorable quotes that have stuck with me since reading this book, and I highly recommend it!

Cultish: The Language of Fanatacism by

Amanda Montell

| Published in 2021

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book! I appreciated the structure, the use of story to explain linguistic tactics and concepts, and the author’s humour. It was so interesting to learn about how language can be honed into such a destructive tool. I appreciated that Montell didn’t only focus on the groups we typically think of when we hear the word “cult,” she also talked about terms in everyday life like “cult favourite” or “cult classic.” And, she explored the harmful language that can sometimes be found in multi-level marketing companies, gyms, and even yoga classes. Overall, this was an enjoyable and informative read.

⚔ Fantasy

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | Published in 2023

My Thoughts

Is this book perfect? No. What book is? But what a fun f*cking riiiiiide!! I had a blast reading this book. The college, the dragons, and the whole world the author created were so fun to live in. I absolutely loved the chronic illness/disability rep in this book. The main character struggling to survive in this ruthless college when her body isn’t built like everyone else’s was so relatable. Her struggle against her own stubbornness when it came to pushing her limits or accepting accommodations was so thoughtfully done and came across very authentically. Also, no complaints about the spice from me! It was sexy and fun to read and I can’t wait for the next book!

📙 Contemporary Fiction

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang | Published in 2023

My Thoughts

WOW! This book did not disappoint (which was a major relief), and I cannot stop thinking about it! It’s so smartly written while also managing to be such a propulsive and quick read. This is a great book club pick as it gives you so much to think about and discuss. The unreliable and unlikeable narrator was so well done that you couldn’t help but watch her make such a spectacular mess of everything. The commentary on the publishing industry was fascinating to read about too. This is such a cleverly crafted book, and I highly recommend it!

Spending this week before New Year’s with

Susannah Conway

’s Unravel Your Year to reflect on 2023 and start dreaming for 2024. As a Substack newbie, I’ve been watching Claire Venus’s YouTube videos and reading

Sparkle on Substack

. Rewatching season 2 of Heartstopper because I’ll never not love a teen romance. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Also, Volume 5 of Heartstopper just came out in Canada before Christmas! Received this game from my in-laws for Christmas and I recommend it for anyone looking for a great 2 player card game. On the Happier podcast, Gretchen Rubin and her sister, Liz Craft, unveiled their annual challenge for 2024.