Wishing everyone Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

I’ve been taking some time off from social media to spend time with my family and celebrate the holidays, but I’ll be back very soon in the New Year.

I took this photo when my husband and I owned our restaurant. The bartender placed this martini glass on the bar in front of a guest, and I was struck by how beautifully it was backlit by the late afternoon winter sunlight.

“Wait!” I instructed the guest. “Don’t take a drink until I take a photo!”

Before long, our guests became used to this. They started calling me over to their tables, saying, “Amy! Take a photo of my food so I can eat it!”

I’d post the photos on social media, and the guests would proudly share them with their friends, saying, “That was my dinner!”

In the New Year, take a moment to notice small joys, like beautiful lighting or artistically presented food. This practice is more than just seeing the beauty around you—it’s a way of deepening your self-awareness and grounding yourself in the present moment.

Many people with ADHD feel turned off by the idea of Mindfulness meditation because sitting still can seem painfully uncomfortable, I include myself in this camp. But Mindfulness doesn’t always require sitting still. It can be active, like noticing the small details in your surroundings. I teach Mindfulness as Situational Awareness games, which help you train yourself to notice what you might otherwise miss—such as the way late afternoon sunlight hits a martini glass.

These moments of awareness not only bring joy but also strengthen your emotional resilience. When you’re attuned to the world around you, it’s easier to stay grounded, calm, and connected to what truly matters.

This is how I endeavor to live my life—always seeking joy and interesting things in the world around me, ready to preserve them with my lens.

What small moments of joy will you notice in the New Year?

Cheers!