Finding warmth, connection, and possibility as November begins
Hello, November!
Somehow, we’ve traded October’s pumpkins and Halloween costumes for November’s cozy sweaters, earlier sunsets, and the unmistakable sound of Seattle rain. With daylight saving time behind us, evenings arrive a little sooner; coffee cups seem a little bigger, and perhaps we’re all discovering new reasons to appreciate a warm conversation, a good laugh, or a moment of unexpected sunshine. But November also brings something deeper: an invitation to remember, reconnect, and recognize the many ways we bring light into one another’s lives.
And what a meaningful week to begin with!
As Día de los Muertos and All Souls’ Day invite many families and communities to remember those who came before us, we are reminded that remembrance need not be only sadness. It can also be about gratitude, storytelling, laughter, favorite recipes, and keeping someone’s love alive in how we live. Sometimes wellness is not about moving on but about finding ways to carry what matters forward.
November also marks Native American Heritage Month, an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures, knowledge, resilience, and living contributions of Indigenous peoples. Here at UW, on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples, this is an especially meaningful invitation to move beyond acknowledgment toward curiosity, learning, relationship-building, and respect for Indigenous sovereignty. Belonging grows when we make room not only for different voices, but also for the knowledge and wisdom they bring.
And as the week draws to a close, many in our Hindu, Jain, Sikh, and other communities will welcome Diwali and related celebrations of light and renewal. The traditions and meanings are beautifully diverse, but the symbolism of light offers a powerful reflection for all of us: darkness does not have to have the final word. A small light can make an extraordinary difference, especially when shared. Perhaps that’s a fitting metaphor for our School of Nursing community, too.
November is National Family Caregivers Month, alongside awareness efforts focused on diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, lung cancer, and hospice and palliative care. These observances remind us that health is never just a diagnosis, a treatment, or a clinical encounter. It is also the daughter coordinating appointments, the neighbor delivering a meal, the nurse listening beyond the symptoms, the researcher asking whose experiences have been overlooked, and the educator helping students recognize the human story behind the science.
This week, we also recognize colleagues working in medical-surgical and forensic nursing, as well as those providing hospice and palliative care. Their work reminds us that compassionate nursing can mean restoring health, protecting dignity, supporting justice, easing suffering, or simply being present when presence matters most.
And let’s remember that caring for others should never require us to disappear from our own lives. Caregivers, including our students, faculty, and staff, deserve care, flexibility, recognition, and support.
Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day, and for many, this week may bring a mixture of hope, anticipation, uncertainty, fatigue, or concern. Civic participation is one way we contribute to the health and future of our communities, and for those eligible to vote, I hope you’ll make space to exercise that right in a way that feels informed and safe. But democracy extends beyond the ballot box. It also lives in how we listen, disagree, make room for different experiences, and treat one another when conversations become difficult. Respectful engagement does not require agreement, and belonging should never require silence. We can approach one another with curiosity and compassion while also recognizing that not everyone experiences these conversations, or the broader political climate, with the same sense of safety, security, or choice. Some may welcome dialogue; others may need space, boundaries, or a moment away. Both deserve respect. Whether you choose to engage in conversation, support someone navigating uncertainty, or simply step away from the headlines for a while, remember that protecting your well-being isn’t the same as disengaging from your community.
Perhaps one of our most important practices this week is learning how to remain connected without demanding that everyone participate, respond, or feel the same way. That’s not only a wellness practice. It’s a practice of community care. And perhaps another reminder that we can care deeply about what happens around us without expecting ourselves, or others, to be available for every conversation, every headline, or every debate. Joy without disengagement remains a practice worth cultivating.
And speaking of joy, Seattle offers plenty of opportunities to find it!
From cheering on the Seahawks as they take on the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football to celebrating Husky spirit as UW welcomes Penn State for Saturday’s Homecoming game, there’s plenty of purple, gold, and Pacific Northwest pride to go around! The Kraken are also giving hockey fans reasons to gather, cheer, and perhaps practice a little emotional regulation along the way.
Beyond the stadiums and arenas, Seattle’s autumn has its own kind of magic. The last golden leaves, neighborhood walks, cozy cafés, and the comforting rhythm of rain against the windows all offer small invitations to slow down. And for those looking to experience the week’s celebration of light and culture, Seattle Center’s Diwali: Lights of India celebration on Saturday, November 7, offers an opportunity to enjoy music, dance, and community traditions.
Sometimes the best wellness intervention isn’t complicated. It’s a brisk walk, a shared meal, an impromptu dance break, a moment of cultural discovery, or a few minutes laughing with someone who knows us well.
So, here’s a small invitation for the week:
- Be someone’s little bit of light.
- Check on a caregiver.
- Ask a colleague how they’re really doing.
- Learn something from an Indigenous voice or community.
- Share a memory of someone you miss.
- Celebrate a tradition different from your own.
- Make space for a conversation that matters, and respect someone’s choice not to have it.
- Or give yourself permission to enjoy something beautiful without feeling that you must first finish everything on your to-do list.
Because wellness may not be about having more daylight hours. Perhaps it’s about what we choose to illuminate with the hours we have.
May your week hold warmth in the rain, kindness in unexpected places, courage when you need it, and enough light to share.
A question to carry with you: Whose day might become a little brighter because of something small you do this week?