01/12/2023

All That We’ve Got

We were sitting around the kitchen table at my mother-in-law's place when I felt a soft jab in the ribs.

"Look at the art major over here, organizing them by colour," Justice teased. All the eyes around me turned to look directly at the carefully placed set-up in front of me. There were six of us set up around the table, playing a few rounds of bingo, and I had arranged my plastic discs (or "tiddlywinks," as some Americans call them), by colour. We all chuckled at his observation. 

"It helps me think!" I retorted as I stacked the last of the blue ones into their respective pile.
By the end of the game, I had set a trend with a few other players at my end of the table. My method was unquestionably sound.  

Our last family game night for November was a regular success. Every Tuesday night, we get together with my in-laws to catch up, play a few games, and eat dinner. This week was our turn to cook. I made lasagne and garlic bread from scratch and while I feared the homemade pasta sheets would be akin to chewing leather, it all turned out great. 

The inception of game night came from a low point back in the summer. I was feeling lonely working from home and needed a reason to get out of the house (or invite people over). On a whim, I invited my in-laws over to play cards and eat burritos. We ended up playing until midnight and decided to make it a regular thing. Nowadays, game night doesn't run as late and we've expanded our repertoire to everything from bingo to corn hole.

Over the last six months, game night and a few other simple pleasures have been the things that have kept me going. Truthfully, I've kept a lot of my struggles this year quietly tucked away from the newsletter and social media, choosing to focus more on sharing the wins and small joys that have sustained me instead. However, friends and family who have kept up with me in regular phone calls have seen a very different view of my life than what I’ve curated online.

This year, I have carried more shame than I'd ever wished to bear. The reality that awaited me on the other side of being laid off late last year and then going on to experience financial insecurity for most of the year has been heavy and tiresome. Having finally landed a full-time role in November, the day-to-day stress I've been lugging around has eased somewhat. I can finally catch my breath and say I've even learned a thing or two from this year, but it's all still quite fresh. Having things to look forward to that have cost next to nothing has been an absolute lifeline for me in 2023. 

During Thanksgiving last month, I watched everyone serve themselves the food that I helped bring to the table. Despite all the fears I’ve been carrying this year, I had made it to another Thanksgiving and things had slowly improved since the last one. As we all sat together and talked and ate, I felt at ease for the first time this year. Despite the distance between me and many loved ones, I have felt more connected to my people than ever this year, and I attribute that to the experiences I’ve had this year. 

It's been a year full of deep reflection and agonizing waiting periods. It's also been a year filled with big laughs and strong relationships, even just through something as simple as a weekly game night. It is because of the struggles that I’ve encountered this year that I can truly appreciate the people in my life. If you are one of the many I have chatted to regularly or have reached out to me this year, I sincerely appreciate it. You’ve helped me to keep my head straight through one of the most challenging years of my life.

If 2023 has taught me anything, it's that people are all that we’ve got.

This month, I encourage you to appreciate and build your relationships. Truly make the most of the holiday season. If you or a loved one is struggling with anything please refer to these resources to get the help you need. 

Updates: 

🐇Hare’s Paw Literary Journal: In November, my short story, The Grove, was published in Hare’s Paw Literary Journal’s November Issue. It’s free to read and was a joy for me to write. Did you know there is an Arcadia in Florida and in Queensland? Do with that information what you’d like 😉

Food For Thought

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”
―Rosalynn Carter