A holiday message for exactly who you are

BY: LAUREN COOK, Founder + Lead Strategist

December 20, 2024

Ahhhhh the holidays! A time when it all comes to a head. The love, the dread, the joy, the sadness, the wonder, and the bewilderment. The older I get, the more the years carry with them. This year was particularly full, in large part because it was our first full year as Connecting Our Stories, LLC (COS). When I think of the work we’ve done in 2024, I beam with gratitude. Friends and colleagues like you referred individuals and organizations to us to help bring their stories to life. And we loved doing it.

Lauren (right) and her sweet sister, Jennifer, visit Santa (1979).

I’d also like to think and hope we left our unique COS imprint on our clients and everyone we encountered. Did they feel heard, seen, and valued? Did our style create connection and trust? Did our process push them to think more deeply about their work and impact? I sincerely hope so. It’s what we do.

Lauren decorating Christmas cookies in a collar sewed by her mother (1987).

For our holiday message, we’re sharing a variety of ideas we were inspired by this year (below), and we hope one lands just right with you. Whether you are going into the season and new year kicking and screaming (1979 Lauren), all smiles (1987 Lauren), or somewhere in between, may you accept and embrace how you show up, knowing you are exactly who you need to be.

Love and hugs to all our friends and colleagues,

Lauren & the Connecting Our Stories Team