The holiday season can stir up a lot at once—joy, stress, anticipation, nostalgia, even a little dread. It’s a time filled with expectations, traditions, and busyness, and those mixed emotions are completely normal.

One simple reflection can help you move through this season with more clarity and care:

What am I most looking forward to this season, and what am I dreading?

As we enter the season of thankfulness, it’s worth remembering that gratitude isn’t just about good manners — it’s also good for your mental health.

The First Week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week

Since 1990, Americans have marked the first full week of October as a time to raise understanding, reduce stigma, and remind one another that caring for our mental health is never something to fear.

Each September, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recognizes Suicide Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness, spread hope, and spark meaningful action around one of the most urgent mental health issues of our time.