Wishing You a Restful Holiday Season.

Can you feel it? There's an undeniable, festive energy in the air. When Kwanzaa, Christmas, and Hanukkah dot the December calendar in rapid succession, I experience an almost childlike thrill, one that makes me feel warm, cozy, and full of gratitude.

Whether you celebrate everything or nothing, whether you go to a house of worship or simply indulge in some seasonal sweets, whether you play music or keep things still and quiet and prefer to listen to the crunch of snow beneath your feet... the holidays ultimately are a time to reflect, reset, and reconnect.

This year has been trying, difficult, and yet so important. With the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent revival of the Black Lives Matter movement, there has been a political and cultural awakening with global reverberations.

In light of the events of 2020, Kwanzaa now has newfound importance for me, personally. It was a holiday founded back in 1966 for Blacks and African Americans searching for identity and connectivity and has become a way for people like me to celebrate my African ancestry. The principles of this holiday, which include unity, self-determination, and purpose, are on my mind today. In fact, I plan on carrying them with me as I move into the upcoming year. What beautiful values to live by.

Wishing you a restful holiday season,

— Christina Lucas