Skip to main content

Holiday Spirit

Holidays are hard—for so many people and for so many reasons. To me, the illusion of a picture-perfect holiday is unyielding. It's elusive and can't be captured, yet year after year, we repeat our efforts to pursue it. We stress over presents, trying to find the perfect things for everyone on our list. We fill our backgrounds with the music of the season and hope for a wonderful holiday.

Except, it doesn't always work like that. Family members disappoint each other. Plans get canceled. Things get said, and the words sting. A gift we've given seems to fall short, and we are left feeling insufficient. Still, it's never really about the gifts. It's about the emotions the season brings to the surface.

There are no Christmas cards that describe the difficult parts of the season. Even at my age, I still grapple with this at times. I use that struggle to remind myself that the holidays are hard for everyone. It's not just me. 

Some of our students, some of our friends, some of our colleagues—they could be facing heartbreak this time of year. Life changing adversity not the simple worry of forgetting a present for someone; hardships like grief, dysfunction, loss, food insecurity, loneliness, worry and more. 

Perhaps the best gift we can give each other is recognizing that holidays are messy for so many of us, and remembering that we need not be alone nor ashamed in our struggles. 

If Christmas Hits Different This Year - TobyMac and Tasha Layton

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 21, 2024 at 11:58 AM

    Good servants are called to endure the hardest things.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Growth Mindset

This will be a quick post likely full of errors and incomplete sentences. But, I feel a pressing need to get these thoughts to paper while: a) I have time  and b) I can still remember the pieces I want to connect I was given a great opportunity to work with Dr. Shawn Hunziker today. We've conducted some online book studies around Mindset by Carol Dweck. This past winter, we were invited to give a keynote to CSE Chairpersons ( BIG TIME for us) and that led to today's session with CNYSEA's Summer Institute .  On my way to the session, I was rehearsing notes (as I always do, see previous post ). At a stop sign near the venue where the conference was held, I pulled up in back of a car and noticed the neatest license plate: NEVRQT* I think that's how it was spelled. I tried to grab a picture but realized how creepy that would look and did not reshoot the blurry image I captured. When I arrived at the conference, I immediately told my partner, Sh...
18 comments
Read more

Shelf Life

I was getting teased by a friend about how long I had been working in my current position. "How long have you been there?" "Four years as Principal but 10 years in the district." "You do realize you've overstayed your welcome." "What?!" "Your shelf life. Most administrators only have 5-7 years in each position. You've passed that." That conversation was intended to be light hearted but it had me thinking hours later. We know that one of the most critical educational influences in a child's performance is an awesome teacher. But, right after that, we usually hear about the need for solid leadership. At the NASSP Principals' Institute, the suggestion was shared that principals might even share the top spot with teachers in determining success. The argument was great principals hire great teachers...they need each other. I still believe teachers make the most direct difference but I am aware of how interdependent bo...
12 comments
Read more

Gram

I am a member of the #compelledtribe. We are a blogging group that supports each other and writes in response to posted topics every so often. This week's topic is: Share a story about someone who loved you when you didn't expect it, earn it, or either deserve it. One of my biggest regrets in life is that my grandmother may not have fully known the impact she has had on me. I had the privilege of living next door to her for nearly 5 years. There were rituals she made me do with her. We watched ice skating every Sunday. We watched Wheel of Fortune most nights. On weekends, she sent me around town to different stores, by foot, with a shopping list for deals at each of them (based on the flyers). I had an odd fashion sense then and she was never afraid to tell me if I looked awful. My gram was the lady with the lavender sweater, lavender slacks, and lavender pumps. She matched. I sported a more Boy George inspired look that she never really understood or appreciated.  G...
11 comments
Read more