My annual ‘real’ out-of office holiday email message

I’d like to share my annual ‘real’ out-of-office email message for the holidays. Hello. I won’t be checking my email regularly over the holidays. Not because I am going away on vacation. I will be home. The same place I’ve been since COVID-19 declared ‘normal’ life as we know it over.

But in reality, my “normal” life changed the day I suffered a brain injury in 2012. Then again, when my husband was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer and then on the day he died in my arms 23 months later in 2019.

Over the past 9 months, I’ve continued to work with clients virtually. I advise them on their struggles with the disappearance of boundaries now that our offices have become our bedrooms and living rooms. Our colleagues include our yelling children and barking dogs.

People are questioning themselves, “What’s wrong with me? Why am I struggling with my mental health?” I remind them to be kind to themselves. We are in the midst of a global pandemic with an unknown end date.

I think many of us have learned from COVID that we really don’t have as much control as we thought we did. Things in our lives can come and go, but the love and connection with others is the most valuable gift in the world! We will get through this.

Happy Holidays, and continue to spread the love.

Carey-Ann