Ah, Thanksgiving – the official beginning of the holiday season, a time known to be joyous and festive where we are also generous with ourselves, our time, and our resources. While we in The Florida Bar Young Lawyers’ Division wish for this holiday season to be relaxing, a time for some rejuvenation for all members, and a time for family (virtual or otherwise), we understand this year’s Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations may be stressful or look a little different in the midst of the pandemic and worries about the health and safety of our loved ones and ourselves.
Ah, Thanksgiving – the official beginning of the holiday season, a time known to be joyous and festive where we are also generous with ourselves, our time, and our resources. While we in the Florida Bar Young Lawyers’ Division wish for this holiday season to be relaxing, a time for some rejuvenation for all members, and a time for family (virtual or otherwise), we understand this year’s Thanksgiving and holiday celebrations may be stressful or look a little different in the midst of the pandemic and worries about the health and safety of our loved ones and ourselves.
Alongside potentially disrupting the regular holiday traditions in an abundance of caution, Thanksgiving and the holidays already may not be the “most wonderful time of the year” for you. This season may bring an unwanted wave of grief for those who have lost family members or have complicated relationships with relatives that trigger difficult emotions. This, compounded with the pressures and demands lawyers already feel within their careers and personal lives, may be a harsh reminder of complicated relationships with food and mixed messages around indulgence and health. No matter what unique stressors the holiday season may bring for you, the Florida Bar Hotline is available and a way to feel connected and safely confide in someone who understands.
We encourage that this year and perhaps going forward Thanksgiving and the holiday season, while about the relationships we have with others, is also about the relationship we have with ourselves. Life does not have to be one standard of perfection set out in holiday commercials and greeting cards; whatever your traditions or goals are for the season are perfectly valid! Creating your own traditions can fill the season with festive joy in times that feel uncertain. Maybe your tradition is watching football or the Macy’s parade on Thanksgiving Day, running or walking a 5K Turkey Trot within your circuit, or treating yourself to something extravagant you’ve been eyeing for months on Black Friday.
The holidays are rife with opportunities to be kind within our communities and are not exclusively about being surrounded by family. If you’re one of those folks who feels best helping others, there are no shortages of fun activities and community opportunities no matter where you call home. You can volunteer to serve food within your circuit at homeless shelters or work at a food bank to do your part to allow others to feel confident and connected, too.
No matter how you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving and usher in the rest of the holiday season, it is ultimately a time of gratitude. You get a few days off from the stress and routine of law practice and life and can spend quality time and have the gift of just being present in life with your family members, or just yourself. We wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season, and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Bar YLD Health and Wellness Committee, Haley Moss