Earlier this year, I moved to a town near the mountains in north Idaho surrounded by beautiful lakes that resembles a Hallmark movie at Christmastime. It really is as great as it sounds, and I am completely loving this experience. While I moved here for many reasons, the greatest gift of all is that it has been the perfect place to rediscover the magic in my life.
We hear about the “magic” of the season a lot this time of year, but what exactly is it about Christmas that makes us feel this way? Is it the family gatherings, the laughter, the warmth of a cozy fire, the festive lights or is it something else?
Sometimes, we can get so busy with day-to-day tasks that we lose sight – even temporarily – of all the blessings and the things that make us feel most alive. While the Christmas season tends to be a busy time of year, it can also cause us to pause and take stock of all the good in our lives.
As I sat down to write this editorial with none other than a new Hallmark Christmas movie playing in the background, I started thinking about how these predictable movies may actually hold the secret to finding the magic I was looking for. For starters, they are generally happy and positive, which is refreshing in a world filled with chaos. Looking on the bright side instead of assuming the worst and looking for problems is key, as is breaking out of our routines to try something new and gain a new perspective.
One of the greatest challenges when moving to a new place is rebuilding a local social circle. This time around, I decided to push myself outside my comfort zone by saying “yes” whenever I received an invitation to go somewhere. I highly recommend this strategy if you feel like you are in a rut or just want more adventure in your life.
Additionally, ending a helping hand is always a great way to feel the magic of the season and recreate it all year long. When hurricanes hit the Southeast this fall, three ladies from the farming community near Washington State University (WSU) sprung into action to help. What began with an idea to pack a few flood buckets (5-gallon buckets with supplies) branded with the WSU logo to ship to the affected area in North Carolina led to an adventure flying across the country with seven bundles of supplies, including 75 buckets and lots of towels, non-perishable food, kids' coloring books, work gloves, socks and more.
Kristy Szablya, who coordinated this donation along with Kimberly Gormley and Susan Mittelstaedt, described the experience as “sobering.”
“There was a lot of devastation in the area and a lot of people were affected; some even lost their lives,” Szablya says. “[WSU] Cougs helping others is just what we as a community do, and we wanted to help in a way that was significant to someone’s life.”
That giving spirit is shared by many in agriculture and is one of the reasons I love being part of this industry. Every year, we hear countless stories of farmers helping a farm family who just lost a loved one to finish harvest or neighbors who are quick to jump in and help after a barn fire or another disaster requiring the cows to temporarily find a new place to be milked. I say it often, but we truly have the best people in agriculture.
Merry Christmas!
