Phyllis Smith

My yoga teacher once said to me, "You're very good at being busy." At the time, I wasn't quite sure what she meant. I thought I was simply doing what needed to be done—work, family, responsibilities, and all the things that fill our days. But as I've gotten older, I understand exactly what she was talking about.

Sometimes the things we grieve aren’t just the painful losses. Sometimes we grieve the things that brought us joy. This week, I found myself surprisingly emotional over the ending of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Through so much of the craziness happening in our country and around the world, Stephen has given me laughter. Perspective. Relief. A way to cope.

Hanukkah celebrates the triumph of light over darkness and freedom over oppression. I, along with Jews around the world, am lighting candles this week in honor of the tradition. But this year, it's with a heavy heart, as we mourn the loss of at least 15 Jews gunned down by a father and son in Australia while Jewish friends and families celebrated the first night of Hanukkah on a beautiful beach.