Maybe I’ve been watching too many holiday rom-coms, but I feel like it’s high time we brought back the idea of miracles.

Especially at this time of year, when it all seems to be about the material than the magical nowadays.

As kids, Christmas was all about the magic. We believed in Santa Claus, and we imagined him being pulled in his sleigh by reindeers that we even had names for.

Even when I realised that the presents may not actually come from The North Pole, it still felt comforting to believe in some kind of force for good. Even if we can’t see it.

To be honest, I think I lost that for a while - my belief in magic and miracles. I’d stopped talking about angels and the ethereal.

I’d taken what I thought was a more “grounded” approach, because in the end, I thought, we are having a physical experience here on Earth, and we’ve got to get s**t done”.

One of my most-used mantras for getting through life had become:

“No one’s coming to save you”.

It’s a quote by Nathaniel Brandon, in his book “The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem”, the purpose being that it helps empower us to take responsibility for our own lives.

I’ve never actually read the book but I’d adopted this mindset somewhere in my car through the Austrian Alps, when I decided I “don’t want to play anymore”, and I wanted to give up and go home.

When I realised it wasn’t an option and literally, no one could come and save me, it did help me put my big girl’s pants back on and get back on the road.

I’d seen this moment as my tipping point, it had helped me in my “warrior training”, so I’d kept it as a mantra for getting through this thing we call life.

Now I realise how utterly depressing it is to think that way. It can be helpful in some situations, but not as a long-term strategy.

Doing it all yourself, never having to rely on others, being a “lone wolf”, are these really badges of honour? Or actually just leading us further towards loneliness and disconnection?

Smart wolves travel in packs, and like us, they rely on each other for survival. We are literally designed to connect and co-operate.

Not only is it necessary for our survival, but also for our sense of wellbeing. It’s good for our health to be around others, and it’s good for us to have a little faith too - in life and each other.

It took a small miracle just a couple of months ago for me to start seeing the flaws in my thinking.

We’d taken a small boat to an uninhabited island. It was the end of the season, the last trip until next May. No one lives there, no one goes there, and there was just us on the island for a little wild adventure as part of one of my retreats.

Then a tiny little kitten appeared; she was no more than 8 weeks old. There wasn’t any sign of any others or a mother cat, and we had no idea how she got there. She was all alone, and just trying to survive, eating insects and weeds.

I think about how unhelpful my mantra would have been in this situation. Being told no one was coming to save her would have been not only unkind, but untrue.

Because miracles do happen.

A group of animal-lovers had appeared to save her, and she was taken back to the care and safety of the Korinjak Hotel on Iz, where she was loved and fed, and given a home.

Within 24 hours, she was transformed. The healing power of love and connection playing out right in front of our eyes.

My Christmas miracle is that I have her with me over the holiday period, whilst the hotel is closed, and every morning I wake up to a paw gently patting my face to tell me it’s time to get up. It beats the iPhone alarm that’s for sure!

Star, as she’s been named is a daily reminder that miracles do happen, that maybe there is someone is coming to save you, and sometimes there really is a happy ending.

My thinking has completely changed.

I believe we’re all saving each other every day, even if it’s just a smile from the person bringing your coffee or driving the bus.

I believe there are angels watching out for us, whether it’s our loved ones or furry friends here on the Earth, or those that have passed to the other side.

We’re not alone.

There are things in the world that we can’t see, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

What’s more, I believe in miracles again, and it’s the best Christmas present I could have asked for - my faith has returned. 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

About The Author:

Gillie Sutherland grew up in the Lake District on the border between England and Scotland, but has now made Croatia her home. As well having her own online yoga and well-being business, Gillie plays an active role in the International Community here in Croatia, running events, activities and holidays. She is passionate about nature, wellness and adventure, swimming in the sea all year round and spending weekends hiking.

Social Media Links:

Website: gilliesutherland.co

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/wild-with-gillie

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gilliesutherland