Sometimes I wonder if I am completely delusional about what can happen in a week. How much life can I pack in? The expression ‘go big or go home’ seems relevant, until one gives it more thought than the hormonally-amped teenagers who like to shout it. Going big also means relaxing and recovering big. Inhale needs an exhale. This means, although I love going to holiday parties and dinners, with nightly festivity I become socially mute; not a good look at a party. The same goes for my ludicrous level of physical activity: the weekends are for massage, acupuncture, cupping, cold plunge, and general loafing. Note: loafing is something I need to schedule or I will fill the time with some other seemingly endless self-improvement activity — I know, compulsively driven.
Helping others, giving, and feeling useful are some of the ways I pull myself out of this essentially self-centered view of life. It is not about me; it is about becoming the best version of me and being useful to those around me. Giving gifts, doing the dishes at parties, year-end charity donations, volunteering, and even sending out holiday cards help to remind me that I feel best when I am helping others. Importantly, to be present, I need to have some downtime for re-energizing. This week that means we are closing work here on Friday, and will not be back until the new year.
All of us will be entering 2024, full of vim and vigor, ready to make the new year the best we can for all of you. Let’s all take a deep breath over the holidays; whatever relaxation and regrouping may mean to each of us, let’s do it and have some fun while we are at it. Let’s think about some dreams we would like to come true this next year, let’s think of some adventures, and maybe something that is really hard and have at it. We are stronger than we think, and we are especially stronger when we work together. In this new year, let’s think about who we can elevate, who we can support, who is in need of compassion.
Onward and upward,
David
