Home I want to tell you something joyful because this time of year calls for it.
And,
In truth,
For the first time in years,
I feel it.
However,
I am acutely aware of how complicated this season can be.
Between meeting deadlines and living with the anticipation of rest,
Organizing family gatherings or being confronted with the realization that there is no family to gather with,
Or maybe even a home to gather in.
And it can be so easy to get swept up in the pressure of this season.
The pressure to overextend,
Overspend,
And overcompensate.
All driven by a sincere desire to feel a sense of belonging,
But somehow still missing the point.
Let's not miss the point this year.
Grab your loved ones and tell them you love them.
Forgive what you can and endeavor to make peace with the rest,
Even if it still means detaching from those you can't share space with yet.
Buy less and say more kind things.
Resist honking your horn and cutting people off in traffic.
And what you don't need,
Take the time to donate it somewhere it can make a difference in someone else's life.
Maybe it even helps them make a home for themselves.
Remember that no matter what lives at the core of our individual belief systems,
Or whatever life events we may each be facing,
We are inevitably moving through this life together.
We could do it at odds,
Or we could do it arm in arm.
We always get to choose.
It's in our choosing that we can achieve the most extraordinary things,
Like understanding,
Kindness,
And compassion.
And all of a sudden,
We might find ourselves making a home where we all truly belong.
Happy holidays from my home to yours.