The holiday season brings a rush of emotion—joy, nostalgia, anxiety, gratitude, exhaustion. It can be hard to make space for all of it. And even harder to hold perspective when we’re running on fumes.
But lately, I’ve been returning to a simple phrase that helps reframe the overwhelm:
What a gift it is.
Not in a performative, toxic-positivity way. Not in a way that dismisses how tired or stretched or overstimulated you might feel. But in a deep, grounding, honest way—a reminder that the hardest moments sometimes carry the very thing we once hoped for.
It started with a quiet moment in the middle of the night. My son had woken up crying. I was half asleep, walking down the hallway with aching eyes and heavy feet. And I caught myself thinking, This is so hard.
And it was. But then another thought surfaced right underneath it:
What a gift it is that I get to do this.
That I get to be the one he calls for.
That I’m healthy enough to walk to him.
That I’m strong enough to hold him.
That I’m warm and nurturing enough to calm him.
That I became a mom.
That I’m here.
That moment stuck with me.
It reminded me that perspective doesn’t erase difficulty, but it can change the way we experience it. The same moment that drains us can also hold deep meaning—if we slow down long enough to see it.
Of course, this isn’t just about parenting. That was my doorway in, but I’ve since heard this echoed in so many other forms:
“I get to care for an aging parent, even when it’s exhausting.”
“I get to navigate the holidays with my blended family, even when it’s complicated.”
“I get to take time off, even if my inbox will be full when I return.”
“I get to host a holiday dinner, even if I’m secretly overwhelmed.”
“I get to say no, even when it’s hard.”
You can feel how those sentences hold duality—both the weight and the worth. And that’s what this season so often invites us to remember.
We don’t have to pretend everything is joyful to feel grateful.
We don’t have to enjoy every moment to honor what it gives us.
We don’t have to love the process to find meaning in it.
Perspective doesn’t have to be perfect. Sometimes it’s just a whisper that keeps us grounded when we’re losing our grip. But finding that whisper—especially when you’re depleted—isn’t always easy to do alone. Sometimes we need someone outside the overwhelm to help us locate it. To remind us that we’re allowed to struggle and still be okay. That’s the work.
At Lincoln Park Therapy Group, this is something we help our clients explore every day—how to hold both gratitude and grief, how to make meaning inside the messy middle, and how to soften around what’s hard instead of pushing through it blindly.
And so, this holiday season, we wanted to offer that perspective back to you.
Whether you’re a current client, a past client, or someone who’s simply been part of our extended community—we want to remind you that your struggles don’t disqualify your strength. They often reveal it.
The fact that you feel tired means you’ve been carrying something.
The fact that you feel stretched means you’ve been showing up.
The fact that you feel something means you care.
What a gift that is.
As the season unfolds, may you find moments of meaning inside the chaos. May you give yourself permission to feel it all. And may you remember that showing up—imperfectly, honestly, humanly—is enough.
From all of us at Lincoln Park Therapy Group:
Thank you for being here. Thank you for letting us do this work.
It’s a gift we don’t take for granted.
At Lincoln Park Therapy Group, our Chicago-based therapists help you find perspective when you’re running on empty—holding space for both the struggle and the meaning.
Reach out today to find a therapist who meets you where you are.
Additional Resources
Embracing Gratitude: Finding Joy in Life’s Subtle Glimmers Beyond Thanksgiving
Self-Compassion as Self-Care – 5 Simple Tools for Mental Health and Well-Being
Nicolle Osequeda, LMFT, is the founder of Lincoln Park Therapy Group, specializing in anxiety, depression, and relationship counseling in Chicago. As a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator, she incorporates Dr. Brené Brown’s research into her therapy. Nicolle holds a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in Illinois and California. She is a Clinical Fellow of AAMFT, a member of IAMFT, and the Financial Therapy Association. Nicolle has Gottman Method training and has taught at DePaul University, dedicated to helping individuals and couples achieve meaningful change. 
