NatNews

Life is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys, rainbows and rain clouds, and plenty of other idioms to express going through good and bad times. Regardless of what kind of season in which you find yourself, life can often feel more enjoyable when it’s spent with others walking through it all with you.

Research has revealed that being involved in community has the potential to help provide individuals with positive senses of identity as well as increased likelihood for better self-esteem. Dallas resident Becca Finke, who is active in the White Rock Running Co-op, said having a strong community of encouraging people is a necessity in her life, especially now.

“I am seven weeks postpartum—if I didn’t have the WRRC community of friends and runners pushing me to make time for myself, I wouldn’t be doing what I enjoy, and I’d most likely be feeling down and self-conscious,” she said. “It’s important to allow others to pick you up and encourage you when you’re new to something or getting back into something you love.”

Dallas resident Michelle Grose also believes that surrounding oneself with caring individuals is essential and said that life isn’t meant to be lived alone in isolation.

“I’m so blessed to have a strong community of people around me, particularly fellow Christians who prioritize their faith with God in the same way I do,” she said. “Having a community of people who are with us through the ups and downs is so important for our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health.”

For Dallas resident Anil Devegowda, having such connections with others has allowed him to experience his own personal growth, both athletically and as a parent, from people who have inspired him to work toward new goals and challenges, showing him what one can achieve through hard work and discipline. For him, community is highly valuable in all phases of life.

“It’s nice to have people encouraging you when things are going great but especially important to have folks around you encouraging you not to give up when things hit rock bottom,” he said.

And that encouragement and support can certainly go a long way to those who need it most. Earlier this year, Dallas resident Laura Hays experienced tragedy in her family and has seen firsthand how important it is to have a strong community, especially in difficult times.

“After losing my father this summer, I really appreciated all of the friends who reached out to comfort me,” she said. “Even a simple ‘Hi, how are you?’ to let me know that I’m not alone and that people care has helped me through some dark days.”

Grose said she is also grateful for the friends who will cry with her in the challenging seasons of life and celebrate with her during the better ones.

“I can be open and honest with my community and know that they’ll give me loving feedback that pushes me to be better,” she said. “Having a strong community that loves me well is especially valuable during this time that I’m single because it would be a much lonelier season if I didn’t have them.”

For Finke, the people with whom she chooses to surround herself are those who inspire her and support her with love and reminders that they have her back.

“I don’t have family close by, so I’m grateful for the friends whom I consider family in the area,” she said. “If you surround yourself with good people, you will inevitably act similarly.”

Initially finding that type of community isn’t always the easiest thing in the world for everyone, especially if you’re new somewhere or trying to find ways to connect with different individuals. Each person you meet isn’t necessarily going to become a close friend (or even a friend at all), though, as Devegowda knows.

“Focus on your strengths and goals, and add new ones as you see fit,” he said. “Try to be social and volunteer at events, and connections will happen. Having a wide variety of goals and interests also helps in finding someone who shares the same.”

And don’t let fear keep you from putting yourself in certain situations in which you arrive solo to group outings. Dallas-area resident Kyle Burnett said he absolutely finds value in community and appreciates the accountability it offers, particularly in his training and motivation to get out of bed before the sun rises most mornings to join others for group runs. He also stressed the importance of being brave when you might not want to do so.

“The first step is the hardest—get out of your comfort zone,” he said, “and show up to social events to meet like-minded individuals.”

Christmas trees are grown in all 50 states, including Hawaii and Alaska, and generally take six to eight years to mature.

Now that December is underway, holiday parties are filling up calendars, and some of them encourage attendees to participate in a tradition that causes mixed feelings for many people: the white elephant gift exchange. Often called “Yankee Swap” or “Dirty Santa,” this party game can be traced back to the 1800s when the king of Siam (now Thailand) gave actual white elephants to individuals he didn’t like because the animal was nearly impossible to get rid of, but taking care of it was far too expensive.

Nowadays, you can find partygoers buying sometimes undesirable gifts, though some parties opt for presents that many individuals might actually want. Dallas-area resident Ivan Alonzo said he is a fan of games that include gift exchanges because they take away the pressure from trying to find the “perfect” gift.

“It allows you to buy something fun,” he said. “The game can also serve as a bit of research in case you’re unsure what to buy for someone who is also playing the game. You can see what piques that person’s interest to help give you some ideas.”

He’s certainly not alone in his affinity for this holiday game—53 percent of NatNews dear readers said they like white elephant gift exchanges, while 25 percent believe they are intolerable, and 22 percent don’t have strong opinions on the matter. Anna Tobkin, who lives in the Kansas City area, said her favorite holiday festivity is an annual Christmas Eve pajama exchange with her family, but she also enjoys the sillier gift-giving games at celebrations she attends this time of year.

“They are a fun way to spread the Christmas spirit among friends,” she said. “The competition aspect of a white elephant is also exciting and brings lots of laughs!”

There are certainly haters of the game, though. Former Dallas resident Leslie McCary, who now lives in San Angelo, is on Team White Elephant Gift Exchanges Are the Worst and would rather have the opportunity to give something more meaningful to a specific individual.

“I always bring something that’s great and know others will love to get but get stuck with the worst gift or something stupid and impractical,” she said. “I despise crap with no purpose. It just clutters my house. I don’t mind a gift exchange with name drawing and choosing a gift that fits a certain person, though, because it’s thoughtful.”

Dallas-area resident Megan England is of a similar opinion and would prefer not to participate in such an activity.

“I always feel like I don’t get out of it what I put in—in regard to thought and monetary value,” she said. “I think the genuine idea of them is altruistic, but I feel they only work with a close group of friends.”

Instead, England would rather take part in dress-up and theme days and decorating for the holidays.

“For me, doing something tactical makes me more in tune,” she said. “I invested time, energy, thought, and creativity, so there’s more buy-in.”

Despite some people’s adamant claims that white elephant games should be ousted, they somehow still continue to show up each year. Tobkin believes their popularity stems from the fact that many individuals enjoy giving gifts but can’t necessarily afford to buy them for a large number of people.

“The ‘bring one, get one’ aspect of a white elephant allows everyone to experience giving and receiving without breaking the bank,” she said.

For Alonzo, the beloved and hated holiday activity is a nice distraction that allows people to relax a bit in a time that can often be stressful.

“It’s good old-fashioned fun,” he said. “I even coordinate it with my team over Zoom. It’s simple and easy for anyone to participate, whether you’re an adult or child—especially if you’re an adult child.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews dear reader Rachel Balthrop Mendoza recently hung out with a special character at Christmas on the Square in Kaufman

Monday, December 4: CityLine Merry Market at CityLine Plaza; National Cookie Day
Tuesday, December 5: National Blue Jeans Day
Wednesday, December 6: Christmas Sip and Stroll at The Star; Ugly Sweater Neighborhood Party at Sweet Tooth Hotel; December Winter Wonderland Ladies Night at Isla & Co.
Thursday, December 7: Hanukkah Menorah Lighting at the Galleria; TNSR Holiday Lights Run from Bettye Haun Elementary School
Friday, December 8: Embroidered Ornament Class at Trade Oak Cliff
Saturday, December 9: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Dallasites101 Naughty or Nice Holiday Crawl on Lower Greenville
Sunday, December 10: BMW Dallas Marathon