Season's greetings to everyone! For some, it is a happy time, but not for all. For many, it's a time of stress, loneliness, and pain. For others, it's the sound of "cha-ching" as it is one of the busiest times of the year for sales and profits.

Wherever we each might fall on the scale of cheer, it is always fitting to greet one another with thoughtful kindness each day, in every way!  

We each can play a role in diminishing hateful words and actions that are causing fear and trauma in our world, our country, and our cities. 

For example, as a culture wellness advocate and an advocate for men and women incarcerated or trying to rebuild their lives in society who struggle with addictions and disorders, I make intentional efforts to treat them with decency, respect, and compassion. The way I would wish to be treated if the shoe were on my foot.

This holiday season and into 2026, I want to give away as many smiles of comfort and glances of kindness as I can carry.  Along with acts of kindness—random and intentional.  If I were to make a New Year's resolution, it would resemble this:

To be a channel of peace and light, of patience, and of compassion. Respect and strength in my home, for my community, workplace, church, and completely in my life...

Take care of yourself, your team, clients, community, and loved ones. We are truly on life's journey together. At times, we might need a friendly and sometimes fierce reminder to put on our human superpower!  

Be well!

A few resources for mental health and wellness support: 

For University of Minnesota community members, counseling is available through Boynton Mental Health and Counseling Monday–Friday from 8 a.m.–4 p.m.  

You can ask your primary physician or nurse about counseling support.

Suicide Prevention Hotline: Call or text, 988, or go to https://988lifeline.org

Rosemary Klass is the culture wellness advocate at the University of Minnesota Veterinary Medical Center (VMC) and College of Veterinary Medicine. She has spent most of her nearly 30-year career at the VMC as a senior veterinary technician in the small animal ICU. Klass also is a certified conflict mediator and serves as chair of the Minnesota Association of Veterinary Technicians' Wellness and Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Acceptance committees.