The past six months have been a time of great change for me—a gentle, inevitable turning of the seasons. I made the difficult decision to retire from my position as a high school crisis counselor. Such choices are never simple; they are weighed and measured, pros and cons considered, until the heart quietly knows the time is right.
Before sharing my decision with anyone but my husband, I began to sift through fifteen years of memories—files, documents, old projects, and pictures. Each artifact was a silent witness to laughter, tears, and growth. As I lingered over notes of appreciation and reminders of difficult times, it brought to mind a scene from a movie I once saw, “Places in the Heart” starring Sally Field. As depicted in the film, a woman prepares her husband’s body for burial—a ritual now entrusted to others, yet once so intimate and sacred to those faced with such a task. As portrayed, the silence in the room was heavy, each motion deliberate. The woman slowly and with great love washes his hands, her ministrations a ballet of grief.
In many ways, sorting through my mementos felt much the same—a solemn goodbye to a chapter of my life. There was a sacredness to the space, a gratitude for the privilege of working with so many students, staff, and families. The passage of time became tangible, each experience gathered like a harvest: moments spent guiding students through crisis, collaborating on projects that shaped our school’s culture, celebrating milestones, and weathering storms together. Opportunities taken and missed, paths chosen and left behind—life, in its unfolding, becomes the sum of all of these moments.
Take time to write it down…
We must mark the seasons, not rush from one to the next, but pause and honor what has been. As the year draws to a close, I encourage you to reflect: What have you accomplished? Take time to think about projects completed, vacations taken, children born, illnesses or injuries survived, relationships gained, or in some cases, remembering those you have lost, work achievements, new skills acquired, etc. Think about what you have learned. Write it down, so the blessings and lessons of each year are not forgotten.
May your heart be filled with thanksgiving for both the good and the bad—for we need the good, and we grow through the bad. Wishing you a peaceful holiday, surrounded by those you love.