I've always believed that one of the most precious things we can give someone is our time.
Not something beautifully wrapped or tied with a ribbon, but something far more meaningful. Our presence. Our attention. A little piece of our lives that we choose to share with someone else.
For me, time has always been my favourite way of showing love.
It's the little moments that mean the most
Every Christmas, my daughter and I give each other something that doesn't cost very much at all. We give each other time.
We might spend an afternoon having coffee, making decorations for each other's Christmas trees, or wandering around the shops for hours without buying a single thing.
And I wouldn't change those afternoons for anything.
I love evenings at home with my husband, watching television or playing games together. I love going out for dinner with people I care about, catching up with friends, and those spontaneous drinks with work colleagues after a long week.
None of these moments are particularly extravagant.
But they're the moments that make life feel full.
Because when you look back, it's rarely the things you bought that you remember most. It's the people you were with, the conversations you had, the laughter you shared and the way those moments made you feel.
When time becomes something precious
I think my appreciation of time became even deeper when I lost my dad.
I only had two years to get to know him before he passed away.
Two years that I will always be grateful for, but two years that also taught me something I carry with me every day.
Time isn't indefinite.
We often live as though there's always another opportunity. Another weekend, another conversation, another chance to visit, another day to say the things we mean.
And sometimes there is.
But sometimes there isn't.
Losing someone reminds us that time is something we can never replace. We cannot buy more of it, save it for later or go back and relive the moments that have passed.
What we can do is appreciate the time we have now.
Not with sadness or fear, but with gratitude and intention.
Giving time to ourselves matters too
As much as I love spending time with the people who matter to me, I've also learned how important it is to enjoy my own company.
A quiet evening, a favourite hobby, a little time to relax without feeling guilty about everything else I could be doing.
Those moments matter just as much.
Giving yourself time isn't selfish. It's recognising that you deserve care, attention and kindness too.
We spend so much of our lives being busy, meeting expectations and looking after everyone around us that it's easy to forget ourselves.
But time for ourselves doesn't have to be earned.
Sometimes, it's simply something we need.
The inspiration behind Hers of Hampshire
This belief in the value of time became part of the inspiration behind Hers of Hampshire.
I wanted to create something that encouraged people to appreciate the moments that make life meaningful.
A beautiful fragrance filling a room. The gentle glow of candlelight at the end of a busy day. A thoughtful gift for someone who deserves a little time to themselves.
Not because a candle can give us more hours in the day, but because it can become part of a moment we choose to enjoy.
A moment shared with family, an evening spent laughing with friends, or a little time set aside just for ourselves.
Because whether we're surrounded by the people we love or enjoying the comfort of our own company, those moments deserve to be treasured.
Time, Given
This philosophy has also inspired something very close to my heart: a forthcoming candle collection called Time, Given.
Each fragrance has been thoughtfully chosen with those meaningful moments in mind. Time to reconnect, time to unwind, time to be together, or simply time to yourself.
I'll be sharing more about the collection soon.
But whatever the occasion, I hope Hers of Hampshire will always be a gentle reminder of something I've come to believe deeply.
Time is precious. Give it thoughtfully. Enjoy it fully.
Perhaps there's someone you've been meaning to see. A conversation you've been putting off. Or a little something you've wanted to do purely because it makes you happy.
Don't always wait for the perfect moment.
Make the coffee date. Take the afternoon off. Have the conversation. Enjoy the quiet evening.
Because time is precious, and the moments we choose to give it to are the ones that make it meaningful.
With warmest wishes,
Hers of Hampshire