It has been a hard year for a lot of people I know. Many of my friends are heading into the holidays on fumes. Grief, loss, anxiety, loneliness, and over-stimulation are just a few ingredients in the cocktail of 2025. It makes sense why some Christmas lights and holiday tunes would lift the spirits. And if this is you, I would like to offer the possibility that what your mental and emotional health might really need is Advent.

Loneliness, Reconciliation, and Backstabbing Delinquent Friends. This is the winning submission of our Launch Team Writing Contest!

Valentine's Day is not a day that simply celebrates love. But it does throw a spotlight on how we distill, diminish, and distort the reality