My closing thought today is a very brief and very simple exhortation …

My experience of life is that you get out of it what you put into it.

I know you’re feeling fatigued. We all are. But I exhort you, whatever this time of year means to you there’s no arguing that there’s something special about it. And it’s not just cultural or religious because even apart from all our holiday stories or traditions Nature herself feels different—yes, even here in an overly warm and dry Southern California the sun, the air, the wind, even the warmth feels different—and in my book that’s reason enough for you to have permission to feel different too.

So give yourself permission to find something to celebrate and then enter into the spirit of the season and reap the benefits. My own reasons for celebrating the holidays have changed and evolved over the years. That’s fine. I think it’s to be expected. But one thing that has never changed in me is that this is my favorite time of year because it is a season of human warmth, a season of gratitude and a season of giving. It is a time of year when we have the opportunity to celebrate the best of what it means to be us. And that alone is an excellent reason for the season, worthy of a special meal and a string or two of twinkling lights.

So please, do yourself and all of us a favor, and enter in. I promise I’ll do my part to help you have a very Happy Holidays and, as always, to build yourself a beautiful life.