I have little skill when it comes to remembering facts, names, or things you might read in a textbook. What I do, however, remember in vivid detail are moments in time when all of my senses were heightened—walking into a beautiful space, reuniting with a friend I haven’t seen in a while, eating a delicious meal, or traveling to a part of the globe where everything around me feels different from the scenes of my daily life.

It’s hard to extract particular words about those kinds of moments. They may leave you filled to the brim with things to say, things to describe, but the moments themselves will always be most potent when you feel and experience them for yourself.

The month of November always feels nostalgic to me. Romanticizing the past should be done with a healthy dose of caution, but when nostalgia is considered as a reason to make everyday moments more special—to create experiences and traditions you know you’ll look back on fondly for years to come—that’s where its true magic lies.

Romanticizing the past should be done with a healthy dose of caution, but when nostalgia is considered as a reason to make everyday moments more special—to create experiences and traditions you know you’ll look back on fondly for years to come—that’s where its true magic lies.

For me, November means decorating the tree with the kids, reminiscing about what different ornaments mean to each of us as we go. It means baking (or attempting to bake…) the dessert recipes my mom and grandma used to make for me. November means cuddling up by the fire. It means dressing up for the fun of it. November means relaxed gatherings and the feeling of togetherness. It also means bringing out the nice crystal and linens at times, if only because we feel like it. November means celebrating moments, both big and small, building rituals and traditions along the way.

This month, I’d love for you to take a few moments to consider what it is about this season that feels noteworthy to you. What matters to you most? Where do you want to intentionally focus your time and attention? What traditions do you want to bring to life? What new memories do you want to create? 

This November, our contributors will be writing about how to set boundaries around holiday togetherness, the phenomenon of pre-nostalgia, and a practical guide to taking a retreat. I’ll be sharing a curated selection of holiday gift picks (the first two guides roll out this week, with the others closely following!), our home’s 2021 holiday decor reveal, and an updated roundup of my favorite local spots to frequent in the Twin Cities. Stay tuned for this and plenty more throughout the month ahead!

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Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.