When I sat down to write the President’s Message for this month’s ONB, I had a big heavy topic in mind. I hammered out nearly four pages of thought. I’ll admit it was a bit of a mess, as most of my President’s Message musings typically begin. Part of the reason I enjoy contemplating conservation challenges in the President’s Message is that it gives me the opportunity to think and write. This helps me get my own thoughts straight and attain clarity in how I might be thinking about a particular conservation-related challenge or what questions might be appropriate to pose for wildlife conservation professionals to ponder.

Lynn Freidman, Flickr

After completing an exceedingly rough draft and sharing with my trusted reviewer, I received feedback that helped me to realize I had made a gross oversight. I was hammering away on my keyboard contemplating complex conservation challenges and trying to reconcile my thinking and articulate meaningful conservation perspective without any consideration for the time of year, where people have been this past year, and where they might currently be.

I quickly pivoted on the message and want to use this space to simply say Happy Holidays for however you celebrate this time of year. Regardless of where you are, what you do, or who you are with, take time this holiday season to be purposefully present and reflect. Get outside to enjoy nature and all the bounty she has to offer, connect with nature and connect with friends and family, and appreciate all the blessings in your lives.

Despite our ongoing conservation challenges, our conservation successes are numerous and worthy of acknowledging—the ONB will continue to touch on weighty conservation issues in the New Year, but now is the time to enjoy the peace of the season. Thank you all for whatever role you fill in the conservation space, and I hope you can take time this season to enjoy some of the fruits of your labor.