*Henley Beach, Adelaide, South Australia. Photo by Christina Day*

On Christmas Day, I went for an early morning walk before the busyness of the day. It was magical - with clear blue, sparkling water lapping at my feet, seagulls flying overhead, and a pink glow saturating the sky before the sun peeped out over the horizon. Mother Nature seemed to be sending me whispers - with one clear message ‘everything is connected’. In that hour, I felt a connection to Memphis when a dog owner called out to his dog named ‘Elvis’, I felt a connection to all my friends in the US when a lady looked me straight in the eye and with her beaming smile said ‘good-morning’ in her American accent, and I felt a connection to all of humanity when a man with an ‘Italia’ shirt smiled as he walked by. Coincidences linked together perhaps, but also, just maybe it was the Universe’s way of sending me a message to pass on to others that everything we do affects something else in this world - another human, an animal, or the beautiful planet that we live on.

Nick Cave talks about this concept in his latest ‘Red-Hand Files’ when describing his song ‘Night Raid’:

“But what is Night Raid actually trying to say? Perhaps the song attempts to present the idea that the everyday human gesture is always a heartbeat away from the miraculous – that ultimately we make things happen through our actions, way beyond our understanding or intention; that our seemingly small ordinary human acts have untold consequences; that what we do in this world means something; that we are not nothing; and that our most quotidian human actions by their nature burst the seams of our intent and spill meaningfully and radically through time and space, changing everything. Night Raid tells us that our deeds, no matter how insignificant they may feel, are replete with meaning, and of vast consequence, and that they constantly impact upon the unfolding story of the world, whether we know it or not.

In Night Raid the common act of love initiates a journey through time that holds enormous consequence, that continues to impact upon the world – even now as I write to you, at five in the morning, after a show at the Sydney Opera House. All action provokes change. Nothing is ineffectual. Nothing.” Nick Cave

They're poignant words to consider, on New Years Eve, when we’re reflecting on the year that was and are hopeful for the year that is to become.

In my own little world, I’m reflecting on the fact that I’ve just experienced my last Christmas in my 40s, and that next year I’ll be reaching the milestone half a century! How did that happen?! There seems to be too many things left that I want to do with my life, and I hope I get to pack them into at least the next 25 years!

My Dad has certainly packed a lot into his 76 years, and I hope that he gets to see another Christmas after this one, but with a diagnoses of brain cancer late November, we’re just not sure how much longer he’ll have. It puts a whole new perspective onto my own perceived difficulties, and made this Christmas in South Australia with Dad all the more special. As my siblings and I said when we learnt of the diagnoses, at least there is a silver lining - geting to spend more time with him now, unlike with our step-father, who departed this world so suddenly last year.

A very low point of the year was attending the funeral of my beautiful 52 year old cousin, Annabelle. A brilliant Dr, and the kindest person you could ever meet, her life was cut short by cancer. She will be sorely missed by her loved ones this New Year.

During the week, I also attended the funeral of my much-loved Great Uncle Bill, the last of my Nanas siblings. I have many fond memories of him in my childhood, especially his beautiful voice and jovial laugh.

But I also got to meet my new five-month-old cousin a few weeks ago, and boy did I love giving him the biggest cuddle and receiving the most delightful smiles and giggles in return.

Each of these people have had a great influence on my own life, but also of those around them. From the five-month-old who makes a lot of people very happy, to a 52 yr old Dr who has helped saved thousands upon thousands around the world with her research, to my Dad, a 76 yr old who everybody seems to love - and even in this time of pain and uncertainty finds humour in all things, and to my beautiful 98 yr old Great Uncle, who brought much love and peace to those around him - I see how each of these people have had enormous consequence in the world, and how their actions of love connect all of us together.

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Perhaps the greatest highlight for me this year has been returning to study photography at the Photography Studies College in Melbourne. With four kids including one with special needs, carving out some time for myself feels like a luxury, but I know that if I don’t fill my own cup, I certainly can’t be the best mother.

My blogging has taken a back seat to the photography these past few months, but I did enjoy writing about the following topics throughout the year:

A Letter to My Girls (and Especially My Boy) - A post about the amazing Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins

Happy 2nd Birthday! - A summary of my 2 years of blogging and a ponder on life transitions

Tea, Coffee, and Me - A photo story of the froth on a Queensland beach and it’s reminder to me of coffee

SHINY DAY - I showcase some artworks by my daughter and reflect on what made us both shine one May day

Strange and Abstract Things - A photo story inspired by ‘Stranger Things’

Finally, I thought I’d share with you one of the photography projects I completed this year, a social documentary style portfolio of my daughters. Influenced by photographers such as Sally Mann, Susan Meiselis and Rowena Meadows, I set out to document my children in a candid style, in their home environment, and where their true personalities come through. I took hundreds of photos of all four children, but the final 10 images were chosen as they best represented the emotions and reality I wanted to portray of teenage, female sisters - uncertainty, sibling rivalry, friendship, angst, hormones, mess, wonder, rebelliousness, beauty, masks, strength, irritability, and sadness.