“Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday season filled with love, belonging, and heart-warming kindness.” ~LMB
While many families are busy getting excited about the holidays, many others are grieving tremendous losses. In recent weeks alone, from the victims of the Bondi Beach and Brown University shootings to the murder of M.I.T. professor Nuno Loureiro to the murders of Rob and Michelle Reiner, there are many families in tremendous pain as they walk through this holiday season. Sadly, there are countless more families and individuals that few know about who are also struggling.
As you walk through this season, remember those in pain. Throughout these weeks, realize that many of those in pain see the beautiful holiday lights and decorations as painful reminders of what’s missing rather than exciting things coming their way. Each present opened is a reminder of the ones never to be opened again. Watching other families celebrating becomes a heart-wrenching reminder of how their own family holidays are forever changed.
In the face of such loss, small acts of kindness become profound gestures of solidarity. Remember and lead with compassion for everyone you meet:
- Say hello.
- Share a smile.
- Be kind.
- Reach out to those alone.
- Give compliments generously to friends, loved ones, and strangers alike.
- Build others up–be a builder, not a destroyer.
Take the time to notice what true compassion, building others up, and kindness feels like to freely give. This season is particularly heavy for so many–be a beacon of light. And if things are going well for you right now, then be thankful for what you have, hold your loved ones tight, and enjoy your holidays with a renewed appreciation of this gift.
Challenge: If you are struggling this holiday season, may you be surrounded by many beacons of light helping you get through the storm. And may you find the kindness and compassion within yourself to be a beacon of light for others when the storm has come their way. Wishing you and your family a loving and truly connecting holiday season.
