Happy Holidays - 2024

The end of December is here. This year Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa all align closely on the calendar. As this posts, those who celebrate Hanukkah are nearly the end of the eight-night celebration. Hanukkah and Kwanza both begin the day after Christmas, making for a celebration week across cultures. And, regardless of which of those holidays you celebrate, they all bring family and friends together to enjoy each other.

The holiday season always seems to sneak up on us. Perhaps because we work in a retail world we end up getting so busy with our business, or planning for the next year, the calendar continues to move on. Plus, this year, with a late Thanksgiving, it felt like there was less time between these holidays. And, as much as I could use a little more time to prepare, I am anxious to take a breather and spend the time celebrating the season, the year, and what I am grateful for.

I spend a lot of time (and words) on this site discussing planning, and organizing, and ideas for leading yourself and your team for successful business outcomes. There is a lot to each of those. My advice for everyone (and a big one for me), is to just take time to enjoy the season. No extra planning for what might happen on those few days you celebrate. Ensure you take time to really engage with your family and be present in the moments that happen, as they happen. Sometimes, everything can feel a little too serious, and feel as though everything needs a plan (after all we’re programmed to do that as leaders…right?). Well…maybe not everything does. Serendipity can be a beautiful thing.

For me, I am going to ensure that I take some time over the holidays to truly disconnect from normal routines and activities and look for things that free my mind or allow me to spend time with others. It may be cold, but I want to get outside and enjoy the sights, sounds, and feeling of winter. A hike in the woods is always nice. Find something you know you don’t make enough time for during the year, and give yourself that gift for this holiday season.

I wish all of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or just enjoy the winter season as the year comes to a close. I hope everyone can make that time to enjoy this special time of year with family and friends.

Happy Holidays.

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