Having finished our Thanksgiving leftovers and having remembered how many things we truly have to be thankful for, we enter December at a dead run, anticipating more family time, lots of comfort food and celebrations during the holidays to come. By any definition, December requires energy, and it deserves grace. We just saw Kathleen Turner in Arena Stage's production of The Year of Magical Thinking based on Joan Dideon's memoir. It was powerful, emotional, and fully engaging of both mind and heart. Turner herself is a force; she was brilliant. The director said Turner was interested in doing this uniquely difficult play because she wanted to bring its 'grace' to the stage--she did. At the end, you feel you have shared experiences so deeply personal, that stepping back into your day to day life-- outside of that narrative-- takes a moment. And at the end, you hope to know similar grace yourself. You also realize how difficult and different each individual's experiences can be. So, amid the energy sapping bustle, as we all gear up for the final month of 2016's joyful occasions, our holiday wish is that we too find grace, in the inclusion, understanding and warmth we each extend in our personal, professional, and global lives. Happy Holidays!
