Letter from the President and CEO December 2024
Dear Reader,
Believe it or not, the holiday season is in full swing. There are so many messages that fit this time of year, from the values of gratitude and togetherness to the observance of the birth of Christ to new beginnings and fresh perspectives… It is indeed a season that brings spiritual riches, insight, and connection.
These riches are a different kind of gift than the ones wrapped tightly in paper and tied up with bows. They cannot be bought but are instead received and opened through the power of presence, intention, and reflection – by exercising our innate ability to engage in meaning-making, whether in the context of triumphs or struggles. Of course, the season brings both.
Despite all the tinsel, we can be sure that many people are experiencing an acute kind of tenderness as December moves along, perhaps because of an empty chair at the table, the memory of days past, or seasonal melancholy. As you engage with others these holidays, whatever the case, remember that we can extend hope and warmheartedness both outwards to others and inwards to ourselves. It doesn’t cost a thing. At the Institute, we teach skills and feature perspectives that help us keep these profound aspects of being human at the core of our experience.
Accordingly, I invite you to join us for our 11th Annual Silent Nights program, which will feature stories of holiday grief, tools for self-care, and an experiential sound bath by Rev. Gena Davis. It will be a powerful program – always one of my favorites of the year. You can learn more and register HERE.
Finally, I ask that you please include the Institute in your end-of-year giving plan. We provide a vast majority of our services free of charge, and your support helps to sustain our work. You can download our annual report HERE and donate in any amount HERE. Thank you in advance for helping us advance spirituality in health.
Peace to you as 2024 winds down. May this holiday season bring you peace, grace, and joyous anticipation of the coming year.
Warmly,
Stuart
Stuart C. Nelson
President and CEO