We often talk about the “stress” of the holidays, but can we complain about that now? Instead, we mourn NOT having our many social gatherings. Just think—you probably won’t have to battle holiday weight gain in January! Yet still, we are uneasy when we can’t find peace in being alone. However, Henri Nouwen writes that by finding our quiet center, we can develop a sense of authenticity that we carry into our relationships with others.