The holidays can be both joyous and difficult for most of us. Certainly, time spent with family and the abundance of gifts and food are a privilege not to be taken for granted. It can also be a period of anxiety and frustration. For those without a home or loved ones the holidays are particularly difficult. Our collective goal at this time of year is to make this season special, momentarily leaving behind personal difficulties.

In each of the programs this month, we have focused on holiday-themed projects. The Art and Spirituality participants at prison have been busy making holiday cards for family and decorations for their units. Many of the Common Art participants have been busy preparing for this weekend’s art sale but also found time to create decorations for their upcoming celebration. Café Emmanuel enjoyed a celebratory meal with live holiday jazz music provided by the Boston Conservatory of Music. From a musical performance to humble holiday decorations, these are all special moments significant in heart and joy.

This past week I had a lengthy discussion with one of the Common Art participants as I was directing others to our temporary space within the chapel. She shared a story of someone she described as being “down on his luck.” She went on to say that in spite of his dire circumstances, he used his limited resources to buy her lunch. Commenting on the rarity of such a selfless gesture, she then observed the equal importance of also taking care of yourself.

I was a bit taken aback by how relevant her story was to this particular month. There is a tremendous amount of joy and personal satisfaction in the giving of oneself and gifts during the holidays. It is beneficial to both the recipient and the provider. But, as my wise friend pointed out it is equally important to take care of oneself. We should all give ourselves permission to enjoy and rejuvenate. It is our responsibility to look beyond the inevitable stressors and focus on the beauty of the season and the hopefulness of human nature. That woman’s friend gave to her in spite of having little to give. She in turn gave to me by telling me the story.

This will be our last post for a month while Briana Heller and I take our winter break. We greatly look forward to our return and the further sharing of our experiences with you. Happy Holidays to you all.

–Brianna Babick