It’s that time of year again. It’s a special time when anxious shoppers are crowding the stores with their bags full of gifts. With the cold nip in the air and snow lining the streets, red bows and evergreens can be seen while carols can be heard in the distance.
Many will go through this season in the hustle and bustle that the holidays create and only say “I’m glad it’s done.” Others will go through the year and take a moment to appreciate family and friends. Some will stop for a kiss under the mistletoe and others will just go.
Maybe it’s that time of year to reflect. Reflect on the years gone by. Reflect on how far you’ve come and who has helped you get there. Appreciate others for whom they are.
When I think about this time of year, I can’t help but reflect on my own life. I am thankful for my spouse, children, parents, friends and family. I am thankful for my years at Gannon University for helping to shape who I am. I am thankful for my teachers throughout the years for their contributions to my life and the countless lives that they touch every single day.
This holiday season, I encourage you to take a few moments to reflect on your own life. Think of others who have helped make you the person that you are. Appreciate the friends, family and teachers who have influenced you.
Make this season a time of thanksgiving. Give thanks to others for helping you learn, for challenging you, for supporting you. Feel the joy of giving to others. Appreciate who you are as a person. Thank God for all of his blessings.
On behalf of Gannon’s alumni association, I want to take this moment to wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy the cold and snow, be with family and maybe even stop under the mistletoe.
God bless you and Merry Christmas.
CARL E. HOEGERL
