This past Friday evening I had to run upstairs to grab something from the kitchen at Indy Hall and when I walked back downstairs, I glanced towards the bustle of our annual pot-luck holiday party.

It made me feel that incredible feeling that maybe you’ve had yourself while walking the aisles of Indy Hall, or lurking a discussion on Slack or GroupBuzz.

That feeling of… “I’m in the right place.”

For me, that feeling has a lot of parts, including overwhelming pride, thanks, safety, and comfort.

I say this often to guests and visitors, as well as onlookers from around the world, but probably not often enough to all of the members of Indy Hall:

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to wake up in the morning and know that I’m going to spend my day with Indy Hall members. Each and every one of you could be almost anywhere, but you choose to be together. That choice matters.

And that I get to be a part of this community, not just lead it. Thank for letting me be a peer among this group of the finest humans I’ve ever met.

I’m also thankful for everyone who has pitched in over the last year.

Of course, the things people have done to help Indy Hall run smoothly or be enjoyable, but also the little things you may have done to help another member hit a new ‘high score’ in their work or life, and the effort you may have put in to making Philadelphia better through generously sharing your time, expertise, and positive outlook.

I know this year hasn’t been perfect for everyone – it certainly has thrown me a few curveballs.

But when I think of the people who get the same kinds of curveballs and don’t have this kind of community to surround them, I realize how fortunate I really am to know that whatever I’m working on, I never have to do it alone.

<3

Happy Holidays, and if I don’t see you this week, I’ll look forward to seeing you in 2016.

-Alex