As I’m writing this I’m freaking out that this year is nearly over.

Thanksgiving is this week, so you know that Christmas stuff has already been in stores since July.

The holidays have always been stressful for me.

Apart from the regular stress this job brings trying to balance family and friends during this time of the year is enough to make me pull my hair out.

Then you add in trying to exercise regularly and text and e-mail everyone back in a timely matter.

It is exhausting, and it makes me tired just thinking about it.

However, at this time of the year, I often try to take a step back from the copy, headlines and deadlines and just reflect on what I’m thankful for.

This week, families across the country will gather for Thanksgiving lunch or dinner … or both.

There’s that little moment of reflection that I think everyone takes to look at what they are thankful for.

It might not be a long reflection, but it is one that we should all take.

For example, I’m thankful for this advancement in my career, and the adventure moving to and living in Selma has been.

I’m thankful for a sport and hobby that has saved my life in CrossFit and weightlifting. I’m thankful for my family that puts up with my constant inconsistency in where I live – I have moved around the south covering news after all.

I’m thankful for the friendships I have formed through Leadership Dallas County.

I’m thankful for the sense of community that Dallas County and Selma have.

For example, this Thanksgiving from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. a group will be hosting a “Feast of Love” at Sweet Advantages on Broad Street.

I encourage everyone to take time this week from all the busy life we all lead to remember what this time of the year is meant for.

We often get so caught up with everything that we have to cook, everyone that we have to visit and then the dreaded Black Friday.

I have only experienced two Black Fridays in my life, and one of them was while I was working retail.

I will never forget that long day where I felt like Frodo from Lord of the Rings after the ring was finally destroyed in Mordor when the shift was finally over.

Don’t be caught up on the superficial part of this holiday season.

Enjoy the time with your family and friends, and don’t wake up one day asking yourself where did the time go?