A Merry Word of Thanks

As a kid, Christmas was complete when my parents gave me THE Ajax backpack. Over the years, though, the holiday season has gotten slowly overshadowed by those missing from the table. Not this year - largely thanks to Thrilld, our team, and Web3 ??♀??.

I think being open about these "merry" days is important. We all have stuff going on. Yet, this time of year, challenges are often not very visible nor audible as they go largely hidden under our shiny party outfits and happy pictures or are stifled by loud Christmas carols and buzzing bars.?

I wouldn't say I much liked the end-of-year festivities in my teens. I'm pretty sure this is the same for many other people with 'split' families. New schools, new homes, shifting family relations... The usual suspects, really.

I started working in bars when I was allowed to, spending almost every Christmas and NYE working there. It was fun, I felt useful, and it earned well—lots of tips.

Christmas got tainted by bad news when I was 19. I had just done my last exam in Constitutional Law that Friday. My dad had invited me to pass by his house. That Christmas evening, he said he was terminal.

I went to work afterward - I did not want to let my boss down. It was a crazy shift in that tiny bar with countless UK tourists celebrating holidays - they drank literally half our stock. My head was frozen, and my body ran around pouring drinks. Felt unreal. My father did not make it to the following Christmas, not even close. I moved to Italy by myself the year after.

A similar situation happened to my dear stepdad two years ago. I had a new job in Web3 for a week. The news came a few days before Christmas. Terminal. Again. It went fast again. It again impacted my life trajectory, more than I'd wish to admit.

Fast forward to 2023.

Lights are shining, gifts are there, yet some of the most important people in our lives are no longer present.?I'm sure many of us are elsewhere in thoughts. Tsunamis, war, (terminal) illness - they disregard festivities and human life.

Still, I'm not too fond of Christmas. The idea that you 'have to be' merry & happy - it really itches. Yet today I'm 'thrilld' with what ís there. Peace, enough food on the table, a few family members still, and so many lovely new people I've gotten to know over the past year.

It's so easy to connect with those in Web3. If you share similar interests and ideologies, they slowly start to feel like relatives dispersed across the globe. The space, in general, is so welcoming. Our team is great.

I no longer work in bars this Christmas but will be steadily behind on my laptop working on Thrilld's January update—no further wishes.

Or, perhaps.. if Santa can make Ajax play a bit better in the second half of the competition, that would be appreciated since this season has been a small drama by itself ???

Thanks for your trust and support for Thrilld Labs, and for building - together. ? -Alex