Every year this time in the calendar, we begin to budget and plan high into the new year, we adjust our aims from the lessons of the past, reset our focus accordingly, adapt, adjust, and amend. Our past makes our present and our present indicates our future, as I always say, and today’s back-to-basics message is designed to conform to your personal message on your LinkedIn profile.

One week to the national elections here. No matter where you live, you must know we Americans are anxious about November 5th. And beyond.

Then a few short days to Halloween, when small goblins and accompanying ghouls invade our front doorsteps looking for doses of sucrose. Or its generic cousin, high fructose corn syrup, more likely.

Less than a month to Thanksgiving, my all-time fave holiday, spent with family and grandchildren, in sumptuousness and abundance, and inevitable traffic over the river and through the woods to whomever’s house we go.

Then the Christmas-New Year holiday, and if you know me, you know I love New York City in this period. And I have a special guest coming (I hope!) to share my exuberance with and introduce him IRL to some of my best colleagues to further his new business pursuits.

In my mind, rake in all that you have to look forward to. So much to be hopeful and thankful for.

Unfortunately for some these are especially lonesome times. Scary ones, deep uncertainty swirling in holiday cheer.

Reach out to wrap yourself and the others in heightened positive anticipation of the brightness of the future. Be aware. Be open. Be there for them. Be you.