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As the holiday season approaches, many of us begin thinking about family traditions, gatherings, meals and the people we will share those special moments with. It is a time of year that can bring a great deal of joy.
But it is also important to remember that the holidays are not easy for everyone.
After spending the past 10 years working with Veterans and helping them connect with resources and opportunities in our communities, I have learned that sometimes the person who needs a little encouragement is not always the person we expect.
For some Veterans, the holidays can bring loneliness, memories of friends or loved ones who are no longer here, financial stress, family challenges or difficult memories from their military service. For others, it may simply be the realization that life has changed and the people and traditions they once knew are no longer the same.
That is why I believe this time of year is an especially important time to remember one another.
Sometimes, a simple conversation can make a difference.
Pick up the phone and call a Veteran you haven't spoken with in a while. Invite someone for coffee. Ask a fellow Veteran to join you for lunch. If you know someone who may be spending the holidays alone, consider inviting them to be part of your celebration.
And don't be afraid to ask the question that can sometimes be difficult to ask: "How are you really doing?"
We don't have to have all the answers. We don't have to be counselors or mental health professionals. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is listen and let someone know they are not alone.
As Veterans, we understand the importance of looking out for one another. That sense of camaraderie doesn't disappear when our military service ends. In many ways, it becomes even more important as we return to our communities and build new lives.
If you are a Veteran who is struggling, feeling overwhelmed or simply having a difficult time getting through the holidays, please reach out. Asking for help is not a weakness. There are people and organizations ready to stand beside you.
The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Veterans, service members, family members and friends can call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or use the online chat. You do not have to be enrolled in VA health care to use the service. Another option is to call the Valley HealthCare System 24-hour Crisis Hotline at 1-800-232-0020.
The holidays should remind us of the importance of connection, compassion and community. We can all play a role in making sure the Veterans around us know they are valued and remembered.
As I think about the Veterans I have had the privilege of meeting and working with over the years, one thing continues to stand out: we are stronger when we don't try to face life's challenges alone.
So this holiday season, take a few extra minutes to reach out. Make a phone call. Share a cup of coffee. Extend an invitation. Start a conversation.
You never know how much that small gesture may mean to someone.
No Veteran should feel forgotten. And no Veteran should feel that they must face a difficult time alone.
From my family to yours, I wish all our Veterans, their families and our entire community a safe, healthy and meaningful upcoming holiday season. If you are looking to connect and would like to meet and be around others just like you, come join us the first Tuesday of every month from 7:30 to 9 a.m. (we stay longer) at the Pierpont Starbucks located at 119 Foxtown Drive, off of the Fort Pierpont Exit 7 on I-68 for our monthly Veteran coffee social. The conversation, coffee and friends you will meet are free.
Terry Vance is a Veteran of the United States Air Force and the Veteran Partnership Coordinator for Valley HealthCare System. He can be reached at tevance@valleyhealthcare.org.