Can you believe it is almost the end of the year already? It feels like just yesterday I was ringing in the new year and wondering what the year would bring. The presidential election did not go as I had hoped, but in a strange way, the undesired result has made me dig deep and remember not only who I am, but also my amazing ancestors who survived the unthinkable and have prepared me for this moment in time.
December can be a hard month for many. It’s filled with holiday vibes, which can make many people feel lonely or increase their feelings of missing loved ones. December also reminds people of the various things they did not accomplish in the year and the clock that has now mostly run out. For others, December is a month filled with anxiety about bills, holiday gatherings, unachieved accomplishments, and even anticipatory anxiety about the new year ahead.
These past few weeks, I have told many friends that I do not subscribe to feelings of anticipatory anxiety. I believe all is in divine order, so whether I miss a train or miss a deadline, I must be willing to give myself a modicum of grace. In doing so, I find that my ability to extend grace to others increases with each passing day.
Although cold weather is just now arriving, it is always difficult to live and work when it gets dark at 4:30 p.m. For many friends, the dark weather affects their mood and well-being. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is real — lack of sunlight — and December can really bring out latent depression and feelings of being overwhelmed. Add a little national politics chaos and anxiety about the future of the nation and job security, and December can be an incredibly overwhelming month.
By no means am I suggesting that folks not feel what they need to feel. What I am suggesting is that you are not alone in feeling that December can be a lot. As my students say, “December is doing the most!” and that isn’t a compliment. I do suggest pacing yourself this month. Acknowledge the somewhat hectic energy that may be surrounding you or the malaise you may feel when thinking about the future — your own and that of the nation.
However you choose to spend the last month of the year, don’t forget to take stock of all of your accomplishments, no matter how small or large. I have also found that focusing on gratitude helps me combat the winter doldrums and the dark weather that arrives just shortly after lunch. As this year comes to a close, just remember that you still have time to give yourself some wins going into the new year.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of the books “How to Build a Democracy: From Fannie Lou Hamer and Barbara Jordan to Stacey Abrams” and “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC.