We Wish You Well This Winter
Last week, I opened my calendar and was overwhelmed with gratitude. I looked at the list of the people with whom I’d be spending my day, and I had only one thought in my head:
I’m the luckiest person in the world.
How many people go through every day of life—especially in the workplace—and never have any kind of authentic human connection? How many of us are hungering for just a little bit of vulnerability and honesty and reality? And yet, this is what I get to do at work, all day.
I can’t believe I get to do this.
In thirty years, you have radically altered everything I believe about people. I used to think people were basically bad — selfish, vicious, abusive, devious. And it’s true, those things do exist. But then, when I go to work, I get to be reminded there is something brilliant at the center of every human being. I get to go to work to witness the genuine strength that lies within every human being.
I offer you something you can’t find too many other places—I observe, I remain objective, and I openly share my insights. Sometimes they are a revelation. And sometimes they are just flat out wrong. When they are, you tell me so, and you share with me your insights about who you are and how life works. To do my job well, I have to embrace uncertainty about my own ideas and I have to be open to the accuracy of yours. And it is utterly freeing.
I’ve been humbled by your wisdom.
You come in and you say things few of us dare to say out loud. For an hour a week, you create a place of true belonging from your vulnerability and daring and determination to become less lonely. Some weeks this is more painful than others. Some weeks it doesn’t happen at all. But then you show true courage, and you return again, to try again. When I go to work, ordinary people teach me about extraordinary bravery.
I’ve been humbled by your guts.
We live in a world in which, it seems, there is so much to grieve. Most work, unfortunately, has become a distraction from our grief. But when I go to work, I join those of you who have decided grieving is an essential part of being alive. You cycle through your denial about what hurts, your anger at those who’ve hurt you, your disappointment about what could have been, and you find your way to peace about all the sad and sacred pain of being human. You’ve taught me how to open up to all of it.
When I go to work this week, I won’t be the only healer in the office—I have a bunch of healers listed by name on my website. All of my colleagues and clients teach me the truth about what it means to be human, and then I pass that truth along. In this way, actually, you’re all healing each other. I’m just the conduit.
I can’t believe I get to do this. But I do.
We do.
As the end of year approaches I know there will be many challenges ahead. But I am so excited with all that 2022 has in store for us! We look forward to making 2022 even better for our community!
When we genuinely connect to another person, when we overcome our barriers, we can experience profound community. That's something I wish for you: genuine connection to other people.
At the Center, we are in the business of helping people live awesome lives. We paint a picture of a life beyond the ledge some people stand on, and help them to rewrite the story. We guide people back to themselves.
I can’t say thank you enough for the incredible Center team. I’m truly humbled by and beyond appreciative of their relentless commitment to our clients, dedication to their work, and genuine caring for each other.
The amazing therapists and support staff at the Center will continue to love what we do and to take care of each other into 2022. We love to make great things happen and we love to help people. We are thankful every day that we can continue to work at the Center for Therapy & Counseling Services.
I hope you will have a Happy New Year, but more than that I'd like to wish you compassion, connection, insight, and growth. May you grow towards your healthiest self in 2022.
Stay safe and well.
