This is the time of year when we are all reflecting on our lives. We give thanks during Thanksgiving, and we look forward to a shiny and bright holiday season through the end of the year. Over time, some of this may start to feel automatic, as we slip into the same routines we take every year, and we avoid thinking about the parts of the process that are not as happy and bright. But all of the emotions and memories, both good and bad, are the best reminder of why we should all take some time out of the routine to think about what we have, and what we can do better.
Giving Thanks for All That We Have
In my house, we have an expression that we use when things get really bad – “yes, but it could be worse.” When the storm damage was daunting – trees were down, rain was coming in through the hole in the roof, and my car was totaled – we still consoled ourselves with the fact that it could have been worse. The hole could have been bigger, the damage could have been greater, and, most importantly, someone could have been hurt. Because all of these things had not occurred, we were very thankful that we could fix what was broken and move forward.
Ironically, accidents and mistakes can become our most useful benchmarks. They remind us to appreciate what we still have, so that we can move forward while addressing what needs to be better.
Celebrating the Season of Joy
So if November gives us pause to reflect on days past, then December challenges us to look forward with hope and aspiration. I think that we can all agree – the hardest part of the holiday season is missing all of our loved ones who can no longer be with us. They may be with us in spirit…but that’s just not the same as sharing a cup of coffee and having endless conversations about everything under the sun. A smile in your heart is still not as good as a raucous laugh across the dinner table.
At its heart, the holiday season encourages everyone to find the joy in their lives. Be it memories or aspirations, we look for the reasons to celebrate the present and future.
The New Year of Possibilities
And when we ring in the New Year on January 1, we all hope that things will get better. Maybe it’s a problem at work, perhaps it’s a personal hurdle, or it might be simply a general sentiment in your life – we all have something that we hope will be better “next year.” This too, however, is a reason for optimism instead of despair. As long as we’re still breathing, we can seize on the opportunities to improve the world around us for everyone we care about.
At home, at work, and everywhere in between, let’s celebrate the past and present while looking forward to how we can make next year even better.