A Time to be Had

Today’s Topics

• The Holiday Season: A Time for Grace🎄

• The Snowball Effect ❄️

  4 Mins Read Time

The Holiday Season: A Time for Grace 🎄

By Jo

The holiday season brings an undeniable demand for emotional fulfillment—a time when the void left by absent loved ones feels especially profound. Memories of those who once played a pivotal role in our lives can resurface, leaving us longing for moments that will never return. For many, this time of year is not just about joy and celebration but also about reflection, reconciliation, and, often, healing.

I can’t help but think about my uncle, whom I lost in 2012. His passing was a profound moment for me, not only because of the loss itself but because of the weight I carried afterward. I vividly remember how I intended to spend more time with him but became preoccupied at the time with nonsense. When he passed, I couldn’t shake the guilt, feeling like I might have saved him if I had prioritized our time together. Forgiving myself was not an overnight process—it took years to let go of the pain and self-blame.

As a Black man in America, I’ve always felt an intense pressure to succeed, knowing that opportunities often come harder and less frequently. Life, for us, can sometimes feel like an uphill battle, where every decision carries heightened significance. My experience with my uncle reminded me of the delicate balance between striving for success and nurturing the relationships that ground us.

This reflection is particularly important during the holiday season. While many are fighting through the chaos of shopping, gift-giving, and celebrations, it’s easy to forget that this time of year isn’t easy for everyone. Some people are navigating grief, loneliness, or unspoken struggles. Others are simply trying to make it through the season without falling apart.

So, this is my plea: Be mindful. Offer grace. Extend love to those around you—even the ones who drive you up the wall. Life is too short to hold onto grudges or let small annoyances outweigh the bigger picture.

Here are a few ways to show grace and care during this holiday season!

The holiday season is not just about gifts or festivities; it’s a time to pause and reflect on what truly matters—love, grace, and human connection. As much as we strive to achieve and succeed, it’s the people around us who make the journey worthwhile.

So, this year, love a little harder, forgive a little quicker, and cherish those who matter most. After all, family—whether by blood or by bond—is what makes life rich.

The Snowball Effect ❄️

By Marcus

"Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can."

– Arthur Ashe

Part I: Your Winter Arc

What have you accomplished over the past couple of months? Is it something you are proud of or disappointed by? How would you evaluate your performance in the last quarter of the year?

When you’re starting from 0, it’s hard to imagine what reaching 10 will look or feel like. The best you can do is try. The worst you can do is never make the attempt.

We’ve reached the end of the year and the conclusion of your Winter Arc storyline. This is Part IV and the finale: The Snowball Effect.

Part II: Reflecting on Your Leadership

Learning to lead yourself is an accomplishment in itself. It’s a transformative process when you make the decision to Vote on Yourself and take control of your life.

When you return the power to its rightful owner (YOU), it becomes possible to take matters into your own hands.

Did you stop waiting for permission and start building? If you didn’t, who are you waiting for, and why do they have the keys to your life?

"The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be."
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Part III: Raising the Bar

Taking action when you don’t feel like it is one of those superpowers you need to succeed. Life is great at disrupting and distracting us from what needs to be done.

The seemingly meaningless moments when you do “1 extra” or “just a few more minutes” of whatever you’re working on creates separation from the old and best version of yourself.

If you decided to Raise Your Bare Minimum, how did it go? Are you benefiting from the extra effort, or is there more work to be done?

Part IV: The Snowball Effect

It’s amazing what a couple of months of consistency and effort will bring you. You may start small, but eventually, the results of your work begin to stand on their own.

If you haven’t noticed any progress, reflect on why. If you have made progress, reflect on how you got there and how to keep the momentum train moving.

Let your snowball of progress build into an unstoppable mountain of momentum. Your efforts and hard work compound and begin to work overtime for you with the right strategies.

As you close this chapter of your Winter Arc, take a moment to reflect on the progress you’ve made and the lessons you’ve learned.

Your story is still being written.