Note from the ACDIS Editor: December is a time for being grateful

by Carolyn Riel

Early December always feels like a liminal time. We’ve had a few days off of work for Thanksgiving, spending time with friends and family, but then need to put our noses down again and meet quickly approaching deadlines before another round of holidays and time off at the end of the month. It can make finding motivation difficult, as we’re all pretending we aren’t counting down the days until some much needed rest and relaxation.

This Thanksgiving, it proved especially difficult to come back bright eyed and bushy tailed to finish the year. Not only was it extremely nice to have time with friends and family, but my significant other (an active member of the U.S. Navy and currently living 3,037 miles away) was able to be home.

“My first time back for Thanksgiving since enlisting eight and a half years ago,” he reminisced while piling both turkey legs around a volcano of mashed potatoes with gravy lava on his plate. Apparently, Thanksgiving dinner on a ship isn’t as tasty as one cooked by your mother. Who would have thought?

Generally, we only get to see each other every couple of months for a week or two at a time. It’s always such an incredible feeling to see him, but it’s hard not to remember that once we part ways, the countdown begins again for the next few months until we’ll be reunited. It’s tough to not feel discouraged.

This time, however, instead of waiting the typical 90-plus days, he’ll be home again for Christmas (arriving next week, to be exact). I keep saying I’m being spoiled with all the time we’re getting to spend together over the holidays this year, but really what I feel is an overwhelming amount of gratitude.

I think it’s one of those things where you “don’t really know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” I have friends who tell me they breathe a sigh of relief whenever their partner leaves for a night so they have time to themselves. While I understand, I also find myself thinking, “you don’t even realize how lucky you are to have that person with you.”

With most things in life, it’s easy to get comfortable or complacent, simply used to what you have so you don’t even consider the possibility of what life would be like without it. Maybe that means being with your significant other, maybe it means having a house of your own, or a car, or the ability eat a turkey leg with your family instead of being deployed.

Last year around this time, the ACDIS team got together virtually for a holiday gathering, during which we started a new tradition. Each person chose a charity, and then was assigned a Secret Santa who donated to that charity in their honor. Not only did we all learn about some amazing charities we wouldn’t have otherwise , but we also got do something far more meaningful than sending each other physical gifts.

It was eye opening, to say the least, and really takes you back from your yourself to realize how much you truly have and how grateful you are for it.

As we sail through this liminal time of early December, I encourage you to take a step back and take inventory of what you have. Be grateful of everything you have, no matter how small. Tell those you love that you love them, appreciate the luxuries you have knowing others may not have the same. And if you’re able to do so, donate to a charity or help someone else out who may not have the means to do so themselves.

There are hundreds of fantastic charities out there doing incredible work who would benefit greatly from a donation of any size. You can search for charities doing any type of work you can think of and read all about what they stand for and what they’re doing. It’s awe-inspiring to see so much kindness.

Personally, one of my favorite charities is Mission 22. Between 18 and 22 U.S. veterans take their own life every day, but many Americans aren’t aware of the internal battles they’re facing. Mission 22 works to reduce this suicide rate by providing resources to those veterans in need while memorializing those who did not win the internal battle. As someone with a significant other who serves, this project is very near and dear to my heart.

So let me ask you: what are you most grateful for? What are some of the things you have in your life that you may overlook at times and take for granted? What can you do to make a difference this year? Send your favorite charities over to criel@acdis.org so we can share the amazing work other organizations are doing with the entire ACDIS membership.

Editor’s note: Riel is the editor for ACDIS. Contact her at criel@acdis.org.