As the year draws to a close and the holidays approach, many of us find ourselves holding a wide range of emotions. For some, this season is filled with warmth, tradition, and togetherness. For others, it can feel heavy, lonely, or complicated. And for many of us, it is all of these things at once.

This time of year reminds me how deeply human it is to need connection—to sit with one another, to be seen without explanation, to feel held in community. We were never meant to do life alone. Connection is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Especially in a world that so often asks us to be resilient in isolation, to keep moving without pause, to carry our truths quietly.

And yet, alongside our need for one another is an equally important call: the need to be one with ourselves.

The holidays invite reflection, whether we ask for it or not. They ask us to slow down and take stock of where we have been, what we have survived, what we have learned, and who we are becoming. I use this time to look inward—to honor the lessons of the past year, even the difficult ones. The moments of loss. The moments of growth. The moments when I fell short and the moments when I surprised myself with strength I didn’t know I had.

Being with yourself can be uncomfortable. It requires honesty. It requires grace. It asks you to sit with both pride and regret, with joy and grief, without judgment. But it is also where healing begins. When we make space for our own truths, we create the capacity to show up more fully for others.

To our community, I want to say this: you are not alone, even when it feels that way. Your story matters. Your presence matters. Whether you are surrounded by loved ones this season or finding your way through it quietly, you belong here. You are worthy of connection, and you are worthy of rest.

As we move through this season, I invite you to reach out—whether that means calling someone you trust, joining community spaces, or simply allowing yourself a moment of stillness. And I invite you to turn inward with the same compassion you offer others. There is wisdom in your experiences, and there is power in honoring them.

May this holiday season hold space for reflection, for reconnection, and for the gentle reminder that you are enough, exactly as you are

Danté R. Hudson-Reda | he/him | Chief Executive Officer  
The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center