As we age, we tend to lose people. [View all]

[LuckyCharms]

I think back on past holidays, with family and friends. Christmas Eve was always a blast.

Holidays for us are rough now, all of the parents are gone, family is out of town, some family is estranged.

Some close friends invited us for Thanksgiving, and it was lovely. We played cards, interacted with their children, and had a beautiful meal. They are like family to us.

I went to a wedding a few months ago, and ran into a woman who was my classmate in high school. We talked deeply for over an hour. I was emailed some pictures of her and I conversing at the wedding. I hadn't seen her in 50 years. We were not that close in high school, but we remembered each other immediately and fondly, and it was quite a warm encounter.

She died the other day. Suddenly.

My point: Life is brief. It really is. Whatever you have right here, right now, cherish it. If you just have yourself, then love yourself. Show yourself some grace. I know that a lot of us here are likely having a hard time during the holidays. I want you to know that I care about you. I'll likely never know your names or see your faces, but I care about you. You are not alone.

I guess that what I am trying to sloppily say is that you should never feel alone. Each and everyone of us, whether we admit it to ourselves or not, are here on DU because we want to reach out to others.

If you want to give someone a gift, call them, text them, write them, whatever. If you lock eyes with someone on the street, smile at them. It might save their life.

I have a boatload of appointments this week, so I don't know how often I will be on DU in the next few days, but I want to wish you all many blessings this Christmas.