Upon catching up with a friend today, we agreed it’s sometimes necessary to step back from world affairs and narrow one’s scope to their own life. This may seem to counter much of what I routinely write about, but you can’t change the world without a strong frame of mind.

Mental health has risen in prominence over the past decade, but the pandemic has shown its importance: we cannot embrace the wonders of life while living in fear or entrenched with stress. True, considering the world from a perspective of outside-in can enlarge our understanding and awareness, but change emanates from within, from inside to out.

We participate in cyclical periods of slow down such as the upcoming holiday period, when many of us relax and enjoy time with our tribe. For our collective mental health, and to renew our communal vigor for creating a better world, I hope we embrace this time of rest and reflection.