Holiday Cheers and New Year Challenges
Wishing you good cheer as you celebrate the holidays with friends and family!
The holidays are a time for celebration. As a young child growing up in the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic country, December meant all things Christmas - decorating the Christmas tree, carolers visiting homes singing Christmas songs, and waiting with excited anticipation for what Santa will bring on Christmas Day. It was, indeed, the “most wonderful time of the year!”
Now, as an adult, one’s perspective changes. The reality of life intrudes even during Christmastime. For some of us, the holidays bring the pain of missing loved ones, either through death or separation. It can mean loneliness even when surrounded by people. Such is this life of ours. Pain co-exists with joy. Times like these, acceptance of pain and loss, and turning towards friends and family, are often what can help the most.
Finding purpose will also carry us through. As we greet the New Year with hopes for a better year, wishing for such is not enough. We need to act. For me, this New Year will bring challenges for the Rose for Congress campaign. How do we spread the news of a campaign that is aimed at uplifting people’s lives? How do we share a campaign platform focused on bread and butter issues, that is anti-poverty and pro-families? How will we engage and create a community of care across political differences?
This campaign is different. We seek to unite people because our economic interests are common to us. Race, ethnic origin, and sexual preference are identities that separate us. But regardless of that, our economic interests tie us together. When we buy milk at the grocery store or put gas in our cars, we all pay the same regardless of our identity. We all struggle to keep up with inflation, conserve resources, and curb our gas use to mitigate climate change. All the while, profiteering billionaires keep flying on private jets, Bill Gates buys whatever farm land he wants, and military budgets and foreign aid keep on increasing.
And so, for the New Year, I’m inviting you to be on this journey with me. Yes, it will bring challenges and yes, there will be tough times, but our purpose of fighting for a better life for everyone will be our North Star.
Let’s come together and in doing so, Win!
Yours in service,
Rose
