December is a month of celebration and reflection. We share memories and spend time with family and friends. For me the past month was spent reflecting on just how important my family is to me. This year I completed graduate school and took the amazing position as a Challenge Detroit Fellow. You don’t realize how much opportunity you have to see your family and friends while in school, winter and summer break were an amazing gift. When I moved, I told myself that I would take time to see my family and that being 8 hours away wasn’t so bad. But when you start working 5 days a week you understand why your dad would nap on a Sunday afternoon. 8 hours seems like a lot now and I know that I’m lucky that a visit home isn’t a plane ride across the country.

My family is loud, it a good way. There is always someone telling a story or cooking something delicious in the kitchen. The background of chaotic noise disappears when you live alone, you can replace it with never ending stream of Friends episodes but it isn’t quite the same. I miss the noise and the wonderful smells, but most of all I miss receiving a hug. It is one of the wonderful perks of seeing your family.

Challenge can take a lot out of you emotionally for the challenges we take on focuses our energy on issues like food insecurity, transportation needs, job security, and much more. Sometimes you don’t realize that things are weighing on your heart and time, until you receive a hug and some of the weight is lifted. I am also for the other fellows as we lean on each other to discuss and solve the challenges we encounter through the fellowship and life. I am thankful to come home to my families for the holidays and be surrounded by noise, wonderful smells, and warm hugs. For what parents often forget is that a hug is the greatest type of gift. I’ll leave you with one piece of advice for 2017, never underestimate the power of a hug and share the love. Happy New Year Everyone!