On The Holiday Season

"It's a Wonderful Life"

During what many call “The Holiday Season” it’s usually the time around Christmas, before Thanksgiving for retailers, extending to after the New Year.  As this season of happiness approaches for me as a new author, I’ve been thinking about its positive meaning.

I’ll give a disclaimer that I’m a lifetime Christian, so Christmas means the same to me as any others in the same faith.  But, what does the Holiday Season mean in more general terms?  Let’s be more specific:  What does the Holiday Season mean for the new author, excluding religious meaning?

At least once in our lives, we have had experiences similar, though not exact, to the famous character George Bailey in the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”  Maybe it wasn’t the honest loss of thousands of dollars owed, as in George’s case.  Desperation carries many messages, sometimes financial, sometimes relationships, and sometimes with loss (my sister’s death was December 22^nd, and she was buried on Christmas Eve). 

As difficult as it is to feel optimism during such times, help is there when people ask for it.  Some gain strength through faith, and/or loved ones, but overall, it must channel through ourselves to appreciate what good we have in our lives. 

As I reflect back on this past year, what remains with me as a new author are the numerous new virtual relationships I’ve gained with other writers, readers, and other great people.  One needs not to look far in cyber-space to see negatives, but look what technology has given us:  A virtual universe to meet people we wouldn’t have heard of otherwise. 

Are “virtual friends” like the friends of George Bailey that came to his aid in his time of need?  Generally, friendship is not that simplistic, and virtual friendship is not on the same level.  But we are out there for each other, for whatever side the virtual friends presents to us.

May this Holiday Season reach out to all friends made in cyber-space.  In one-way or another, we protect the backs of our friends.  Sometimes a re-tweet or a “like” on a social site will pull us out of dark places we experience.  Never forget, new authors, nobody is really alone.