From the Desk of Douglas Bodin, CEO of Bodin

Perhaps one of the nicest parts of the holidays is the outpouring of cards and letters from clients and schools.  Some of our client letters are from the current year while others are from clients we may have worked with decades ago.  We get pictures of weddings, new children, graduations, joyous family vacations.  The pictures are wonderful, but the words of gratitude and pride are phenomenal.  One young man we worked with several years ago has a new baby on the way and is in his fifth year in the military.  A young woman, who as a teenager lacked self-esteem and self confidence, walked down the aisle this year, proud and happy.  Another young woman, who had success in a therapeutic boarding school had fallen back a bit when she returned home, but is now back on her feet, holding a good job and attending Junior College quite successfully for the past year and a half.  The stories go on and on.  They not only bring joy and satisfaction, the stories and pictures help bring confidence to us and hope for the families that will turn to us in 2011 and beyond.  When young people are at risk, the Holidays bring an added level of stress, fear, sadness and guilt for the parents who have such high hopes for a peaceful and serene Season.  But with each letter and card and picture comes the reminder that tomorrow’s families will have those in the future with love, work, effort, sacrifice and determination.

We receive these reminders year-round, of course, but the outpouring  during the holidays is something for which I am quite grateful.

Like  a flash January is gone but may the rest of 2011 be a healthy, prosperous and peaceful year for us all.