December 31 — A Toast to the Survivors

Tonight, some people will celebrate loudly. Others will turn off the lights early and call it wisdom.

Both are valid.

This is a toast to the survivors — the ones who showed up imperfectly, who stayed human in a year that demanded performance, certainty, and speed.

You don’t need a countdown to justify your existence.

You don’t need fireworks to mark your worth.

If you made it through with empathy intact, curiosity alive, and your humor mostly operational — well done.

Raise a glass, or a mug, or an eyebrow.

Here’s to endurance.

Here’s to clarity.

Here’s to not pretending it was easy.

I’ll see you on the other side!

Julie Bolejack, MBA