A Christmas carol edition would be fantastic, but those aren't among the nominees. However, there are stories that might shed some light on how Steemians are faring worldwide in December 2025. And who knows, if you're bored stiff, you might just pluck up the courage and offer someone a little encouragement!
This week, we too had to contend with poorly accessible websites, making it difficult to leave a comment. And if you think the nominees don't deserve to be nominated, I hereby declare that not only should the lengthy epistles (which clearly aren't being read) be rewarded, but also the loyal users who, despite everything, still try to post and leave comments, even though they have to go through a lot of hoopla and rarely receive an upvote or comment - month after month.

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NOMINATIONS

Nomination 1 - @mamamasha
Post New Year's Eve fuss
Hashtag: photography
Country: Russia
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

To some it's nearly Christmas, while others are super busy...

"The New Year's Eve fuss. The New Year is coming soon! It's time to go for gifts. It is necessary to buy new Christmas Tree toys. What's a New Year without a Christmas tree?"

Nomination 2 - @hafsasaadat90
Post Don't hurt me, Pakistan
Hashtag: pic1000
Country: Pakistan
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

A great story, worth reading. My first reaction? Shocked!

"Is there anyone who can stop these people from bothering me or harming me, while I always benefit them, so why do they do this to me? Oh, how much pain it causes me when these people break my fingers and bite my nails..."

Nomination 3 - @emmabritt
Post Perhaps Someone Like Me Doesn't Deserve Friends
Hashtag: writing
Country: Malaysia
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

There are words and words. True friendships are something you should invest in, no matter what. Shall we reach out to someone in need instead of saying: Such a kind and quiet person, I am shocked and never expected it?

"I do not know how to express my pain. I never learned how to perform suffering to gather sympathy, the way some people do - those who make a great show of things they never actually endured, like an actor...This heaviness comes in waves. Most of the time, I can pull myself out of it, but lately, the triggers have been constant. I have been fighting hard since the Lunar New Year. I didn't throw myself into the celebrations; I tried to keep a low profile, hoping not to be seen by those who wish me dead. I couldn't stay hidden enough. It feels like I've been fighting Death ever since... I tried to let a friend know I was thinking of them, but the more I tried, the worse I made it.
Poor human - to have a shitty friend like me. A sick loser who can't even manage her own head. Maybe people like me shouldn't have friends... I am the friend who runs away when the storm comes - because the storm comes from within me, and I don't want it to hit someone else."

Nomination 4 - @stefant2007
Comment Die Kraft des Wortes
Hashtag: deutsch
Country: Brazil
Nominated by: solperez

The author wrote about the power of our words. How to achieve what we want or, conversely, "sabotage" ourselves.

"In my case, I don't experience it as a rigid 'decree' all the time; I do it as an exercise in awareness. There are times when I do it more intentionally and others when I simply pay attention to how I talk to myself and how I express myself. I believe that change begins when we pay attention to our words and the energy we put into them."

Nomination 5: @aplausos
Post Yo te envío mi tarjeta en Navidad
Hashtag: navidad (Christmas)
Country: Venezuela
Nominated by: solperez

The author dedicates a Christmas message to the moderators of the Venezuelan Steem Community, expressing her gratitude for representing: words of encouragement, strength, and hope in crucial moments, especially when in the offline world there is almost no space or time left to vent anxieties or share achievements with "friends."

For various reasons, one day I was left with very few friends. The process has been painful, but at the same time incredibly enriching. Suddenly, people you've never seen—and perhaps don't need to, because you read them, feel them, and sense their presence—approach you and bring news…good news. They gave visibility to solidarity, empathy, artistic, musical, photographic, and opinion-based expression…Please accept my card with special affection and enormous gratitude…from now on, and life will tell when…I invite you for coffee on the shores of Lake Maracaibo. It's the best I can offer, listening to gaita music and sharing all the anecdotes (there must be hundreds) we have from this meeting place called Steemit."

Nomination 6 - @dim753
Post The Last Clown
Hashtag: freewrite
Country: Colombia
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

The Last Clown...Did you see him? Will he be home alone? Some memories we never forget

"I have a sad memory of a fairground show that came to town... The performance was on a Saturday, at 7 at night, everything was great, and the moment of the clowns arrived, they said there were 4 but only 3 came out in scene.."

Nomination 7: @geantech
Comment A coffee a day
Hashtag: betterlife
Country: Cuba
Nominated by: wakeupkitty

It’s hard to connect on Steemit these days, so we have a coffee talk, coffee to wake up? How come that glass doesn’t break? A different way of preparing coffee? Can't you wake up with coffee>

"I drink hot coffee; it's my usual morning routine. It helps me wake up... Coffee here is also incredibly expensive, and it doesn't look like it's going to get any cheaper. "