Hi, friend

We hope this message finds you happy and well and enjoying this Fall season.

In the coming weeks, life will get busy for many of us — with the holidays come get-togethers, parties, and time with family, friends, and loved ones. The busyness of the season, for some, is what makes it all worth it.

But for some, we're heading into one of the loneliest times of the year. Perhaps it used to be a time of togetherness, love, family, and friends… but now, for various reasons, many find themselves alone.

The other day I was at our local grocery store. I was in a hurry to get to a meeting and just needed a single item. I hurried past a woman and noticed her shuffling slowly. She leaned on her cart for balance. She caught my attention for some reason, but I hurried on.

As I hurried, I caught another glance of this same woman. Now she was sitting in the cafe section of the store, eating an ice cream cone, alone, her empty cart next to her. Another woman, roughly the same age, sat two tables over doing the same thing. I slowed my pace and noticed an identical look on their faces… contentment in the ice cream cone, but also the unmistakable look of loneliness. I wanted to go talk to them, ask them about their lives, and say hello… but I didn't. I thought about them for a while after I left and still think about them now. Maybe I should have said hello. Maybe I need to slow down.

We know many reading this are lonely, and we see you. Stories and their characters often become our friends. We hope Audrey, Charlie, Lily, Matthew, Adelaide, William, Norah, and James can be there for you. We will always try to foster community and connection.

So heading into this holiday season, we would like to issue an invitation: if there is a family member, friend, loved one, or acquaintance in a situation that could cause them to feel lonely, take a moment and reach out to them. A kind word, note, phone call, text message — these small acts can make a big difference for those we reach out to… but also for you.

One of my favorite poems is A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief by James Montgomery. I especially love the fifth verse:

There is and can be healing on both ends of kindness and love shown. Whatever end you find yourself on, we wish you joy, relief, and connection in the coming weeks and months of this holiday season.

Michael