Last week was a rough week for me. Don’t get me wrong! I was having a great time. I was doing holiday stuff and being with friends. But I knew that something felt off, wrong. Something was not as it should be.

If you had run into me on the street shopping or just walking looking in windows, you would have never know there was a huge inner turmoil brewing. I needed to work through it all but first needed to truly realize it was there. I was playing like everything was all good. It was far from it.

I’m not writing this for pity. I’ve actually worked through most of my misgivings and have my holiday spirit back in place. Now those walks along Main Street will truly be idyllic. I’m writing this to let you all know what they say is true.

You never know what is going on with someone else. You cannot tell by outward appearances. You can only tell by actually talking to the person and hoping they let you in. Not all people will.

The holidays, for any number of reasons, can be hard for people. It may be memories of holidays past – good and bad memories. It may be the loss of a loved one. It may just be what life has handed to that person recently.

Be gentle with those you know and meet this time of year. Be gentle with yourself this time of year. We all want to celebrate a happy 2017.