War (With Yourself) Is Over…If You Want It

Next weekend, people across America will be celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, some combination thereof or just trying to get through the winter. It is a time of reflection and togetherness. It is a time for giving. It can also be a time for comparison and envy.

Please don’t let it be.

We beat ourselves up all year long. We avoid reunions and gatherings where we fear not measuring up. We wish we had something someone else seems to have, almost certainly without comprehending what that person has given up as a result.

If you must compare, compare yourself today with yourself a year ago. Some things are up. Others are down. But please be gentle. Please rest and recover and intelligently plan.

Please also reach out and be present for your loved ones. Your greatest gift to them is your engagement with and interest in their lives. You make a difference by being here, even if you can’t see it right now.

If you are working these holidays, thank you very much. You let the rest of us be safe and together. If you are alone and can reach out, please do. We need you.

Next week, I will talk about the lessons of 2022 and where 2023 can take our lives and careers. For right now, I’m going to try to hang out right here in the present moment. Have a wonderful Holidays and enjoy your loved ones, however far away.

Michael Kane is a career coach in Hyannis, MA. Santa has historically been good to him. He can be reached at [email protected]