It’s the week before Christmas, and all through the state, you might fairly assume it was just another date.

Terrible rhymes aside, we can’t help but notice a palpable lack of holiday spirit during what is normally the most cheery and uplifting time of year.

Sure, there are normal holiday activities going on in the form of tree lightings, holiday concerts, and charitable endeavors put on by the hardworking volunteers and dedicated nonprofit staffs throughout our communities, but are we alone in feeling as though this holiday season has sort of rocketed past without the usual type of fanfare or excitement?

Is Covid to blame? Or the recession? Or is it just the normal course of societal division that has permeated our culture and felt especially prevalent in this election year? Perhaps it is a combination of all of these things, or something else entirely.

It’s certainly not hard to find reasons to be glum and lacking in festivity, with the cost of living, heating, and groceries increasing, and the sad reminder of how much work we have left to do for many Rhode Islanders who find themselves without ample means to sleep in a warm room at night. Worldwide there is war, uncertainty, and desperation felt by many millions.

But even acknowledging all of this, there are a bounty of reasons to feel merry and bright. We have endured a lot in the past few years, which is worthy of celebration in its own right. For those who need a sign that things may get better, scientific breakthroughs on nuclear fusion can provide hope for a future free of the kind of strife caused by insufficient and inefficient means of energy production.

For inspiration locally, take a trip to any of our wonderful senior centers, where generations of people come together to share in festive lunches and regale stories of past holidays with one another — gathering and being together as was intended for this time of year.

As we should all have learned by now, the true spirit of the holidays comes not from without, but from within. Find a way — a cause you can volunteer time towards, a nonprofit that deserves your attention or donation — to give back to the place you call home. Only through enough of these actions can the holiday season truly feel like the most wonderful time of the year.