 Dear most gentle students and lab members,
I know some of you might be stressed with finals or papers, but the good news is you completed my course(s) and/or your programs and some of you will be graduating in May. I wanted to say again how much I appreciate the engagement of all you in classes or as members of my research group this semester. I truly enjoyed the 15 week journey with you. Again, please stay in touch. And, please know you can always use me as a resource for references, advice, or just to talk. I know for many that the December holiday season is joyous and/or restorative including connecting with your friends, family and/or your spirit. I hope that is true for you. I also know, and have experienced, that the holidays can be stressful for some (especially if you have to buy gifts for everyone) either because of tension with family, recent loss of loved ones, loneliness, financial stress (and taking on extra hours at work), other emotional stress that is heightened during the holiday, or things like expectations that you are supposed to be happy and celebratory during the holidays, while you might be suffering from depression, which I can tell you from my own experience can be painful. If you are in the latter group, please know that you are not at all alone. For example, the Mayo Clinic has a site focusing on tips to deal with holiday stress here. Also, the UNCG counseling center's website has links to important services and indicates that "for urgent mental health needs,crisis assistance is available anytime, from anywhere, by calling them at 336-334-5874." If you just have no one to talk to and just want to talk you can contact me by email and I will get back to you. I really do care about all of you, so I am wishing all of you nothing but the best in the future. But, I still want to remind you that most people would not hesitate to seek professional help when they are experiencing significant physical pain. My wish is that our culture would recognize that it should be just as second nature to seek professional help when experiencing emotional pain, especially for people in your age group where suicide is the second largest cause of death (and it spikes during the holidays), behind accidents (car accidents, etc). Please don't let yourself believe you are weak and unworthy because you hurt or don't recognize yourself, and think that normal people work through it alone. Over my 61 years of personal experience, alone didn't work well for me, and support from mental health professionals made all the difference. I also will be rooting for each and every one of you to ultimately propel yourselves into lives that you consider meaningful and successful- the definition of meaningful and successful, I hope (if your culture allows it), can only be found in your own dictionary. There is a song by Bob Dylan that I always think of during the holiday season, and play it often on my guitar. Let me leave you with his words and my hopes for you May God bless and keep you always May your wishes all come true May you always do for others And let others do for you May you build a ladder to the stars And climb on every rung May you stay forever young May you stay forever young May you grow up to be righteous May you grow up to be true May you always know the truth And see the light surrounding you May you always be courageous Stand upright and be strong May you stay forever young May you stay forever young May your hands always be busy May your feet always be swift May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift May your heart always be joyful May your song always be sung And may you stay forever young- I'll be listening for your song! :)
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