Dear Almost Winter,

What a charming sight you are, with your promise of gentle snowflakes, cozy evenings, and holiday feelings. You know, it’s been a year—this 2020—and we can’t say we’re sad to see it headed out the door, which is another reason we’re happy you’re here. We realize 2021 holds no guarantees, but we’re better prepared now. The lessons of this year have us primed to greet the next one more thoughtfully and with a reverence for the unknown that perhaps we had long forgotten.

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, though, because we’re ready to wrap up in our softest blankets and not rush you out, “Almost Winter.” We want to let go of you slowly, while sipping on peppermint tea and memorizing the lines and freckles of the faces we love. We also want to acknowledge the tragedies and changes our communities have experienced this year. 

We cannot forget the hearts broken and lives lost due to events that have recently defined us, from the pandemic to racism to fires, floods, and hurricanes. To those who are grieving, we grieve with you. We hope to treat our loved ones and the stranger on the street with more empathy, and with a helping hand, because this is the legacy of tragedy—a living memorial to those who have gone before. There is much work to be done to pull out the deep and painful roots of racism and inequality, to confront the perils of climate change in our own backyards, and to hold ourselves accountable for turning sentiment into action.

A cup of tea and a moment to ponder may not seem like much, but it’s a place to start. As the holiday whimsy begins to adorn the neighborhood, and these almost wintry days have us curled up with the pup, we lean into gratitude and compassion to help us turn sentiment into action. We’re grateful for the small pleasures that we appreciate even more in this era of new norms, but we’re also grateful for the power of gratitude itself. We feel heartened by the sense of togetherness that it compels, and we believe that the bond of our shared humanity can triumph if we acknowledge it.

Our family would like to end this year by raising our mugs of tea in a toast of gratitude! To our Crew—your dedication, adaptability, and courage have been more inspiring than words can define. Thank you! We toast to everyone’s health and wellbeing in the weeks and months