Happy holidays! Whether you're celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Ōmisoka, or another holiday, this time of year is when we see things start to quiet down in the Community. Hopefully, that means most, if not all of you are getting some well-deserved downtime and able to recharge.

I've been lucky in that I've been able to take some time off this week and next week. Sure, I sneak in a few emails and responses but that is more because I enjoy what I do and hate to keep people waiting when they need something (as in actually needs it soon, the rest waits in my inbox).

While getting some personal downtime is great, I also look forward to the winter season because I get to spend it with my friends and family. To quote W. C. Jones, "The Joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing each others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays."

Remember to tell your loved ones that you love them and that they are special to you. Stay close to those who are important to you, no matter how far away they are (got to love that you can talk to someone on the other side of the world in real-time and see them). Remember to take a little time for yourself. And most of all, remember it's about being thankful for what you have and who you have in your life.

However, let us not forget that the holidays can be hard for some people, as Rick points out, including some of our fellow community members. It can be a time filled with sadness, loneliness, and anxiety. And, bad things can happen at any time of the year, but they can have a more profound effect when they happen around the holidays. When you have a moment, don't forget to thank the friendships you've formed with others.

So with the holidays upon us, let's remember the good things about 2021. Let's look forward to the great things in 2022. For me, 2021 had its fair share of challenges that had to be tackled and I truly believe that we'll see the benefits of that in 2022. Also, just a few days ago, I hit my 10-year workiversary here at Spiceworks! Which reminds me, I actually need to go finish off my blahg post about that.

If you're full of joy and happiness, share why here in the Community. If you're having a hard time or just not feeling it, there are plenty of members who are here for you.

While most of the Community will be super quiet (as we've already seen this week), there are still a few areas that people are chatting in, such as the Water Cooler. If you're looking for a bit more real-time chatter, the unofficial Spiceworks Community Discord server is alive and well.

Thank you to all of you for not just the help you've shown your peers and colleagues but also for the friendship we've all shared over this year. No matter which holidays you're celebrating, we wish you and yours a very happy (and safe) time!

Happy holidays!