When I hike through the woods, I trip when I take my eyes off what's directly in front of me. If my eyes wander from their field of vision into the past, present, or future I will miss a step and slip.

Hiking is an invitation to see only what's right in front of you. A discipline to address each step in accordance with how nature presents herself. As I'm writing it, I'm thinking about accompanying a singer.

A good accompanist knows how to quickly interpret the music, assess what the artist is doing in front of you, breathe with them, and address the next note in a complimentary manner.

The holidays can be the same.

As stressful as this time can be, it's only a moment of time.

• It is not the holidays of years past, and it never will be. It's the holiday of now.

• It's not the "last" time to spend with someone, it's "a time" to spend with someone.

• It's not "how many holidays we have left" time, it's "the holiday we have now" time.

• It's not the "I hate the holidays because we always argue" time, it's the "in the past we've argued, and it's possible we might not" time. I hope that's the case.

Hiking, accompanying an artist, leading a team, and enjoying a holiday is about celebrating the present - what's right in front of you now.

We pervert the experience and fall when we attempt to relive the past, and live the future. Neither past or future are present.

Enjoy the journey.