Holiday Reflections

By Tabitha Ervin
FWIS Editorial Director

As we enter the stretch of “end of year” holidays which include Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, I am always reflecting on how my year went, what else I may need to accomplish/finish and I start looking forward to the next year and goals. I also always have to figure out how to take days off when I have too much PTO (personal time off) left which I do this year. And honestly with the weather slowly getting colder and daylight savings which means it’ll be dark by 6 each night, some of us can slide into seasonal blues, depression or other conditions.

Then there’s the feelings associated with missing people who are no longer with us along with the joy or dread of time with family and friends. I am not trying to come off negatively, just trying to cover the full spectrum that any of us could be experiencing. For holidays like Thanksgiving, while it is a time where I reflect on what I’m thankful for and typically enjoy time with family and delicious food, it’s also the main holiday I miss my dad the most because he loved to cook and always enjoyed family time and laughter with others. His energy is definitely missing when I’m around my family.

Christmas brings about various celebrations from the birth of Christ, Kwanzaa, the giving of gifts and more. Then as we gear up for the new year some of us attend or host big celebrations, attend church or stay inside and quietly ring it in with family or close friends. Many of us also start thinking of New Year’s resolutions or start goal setting for the year for what we may want to accomplish.

However you close the year and whatever you celebrate, I encourage you to be reflective, to be kind, show care to those around you and take time to yourself and rest.