The Last Drink of the Year

Every year ends loudly.
But it ends quietly first.

Before the countdown, before the noise — there’s a moment where someone pours a drink without ceremony.

A closing ritual we rarely notice

This drink isn’t about celebration.
It’s about acknowledgment.

Of what happened.
Of what didn’t.
Of what we carried through the year.

Why the last sip matters

Endings ask to be noticed.

The final drink holds gratitude, relief, and sometimes a little fatigue. It doesn’t demand optimism — just honesty.

Carrying the quiet forward

The year will turn whether we rush it or not.

Sometimes, the most meaningful way to say goodbye is with a slow sip — and a moment of stillness before starting again.