There are moments on your calendar that make you pause.
This year, I found myself in awe watching so many sacred observances arrive within days of each other – some even on the very same day. Lunar New Year and Ramadan began together. Ash Wednesday followed the very next day. Mardi Gras and Lent followed closely by Purim – forming a collective season of fasting, prayer, reflection, celebration, and renewal that unfolded all at once.
Different traditions. Different histories. Different theologies. And yet... the same human themes. Resetting. Cleansing. Beginning again. Letting go. Realigning. Recommitting.
It made me wonder: if our calendars can converge like this, can we?
If holy seasons across cultures can sit side by side – peacefully, beautifully - what might it look like for us to do the same in real life?
You’ve probably seen the “coexist” bumper sticker. It’s a simple idea. But coexistence isn’t passive. It requires intention. Curiosity. Humility. The willingness to honor someone else’s sacred rhythm even if it isn’t your own.
Even if you do not observe Lunar New Year, Lent, Ramadan, or Purim – the fact that they are happening all around you could still be an invitation. As a collective humanity, this season is chock full of energy and opportunity. An opportunity to ask:
How can I reset my mind? Where do I need to cleanse my thinking? What deserves a fresh start? What needs to be released?
Rebirth is not owned by any one religion or culture. It is a human opportunity.
And as we lean into this season of reflection, we are also approaching Staff Performance Appraisal time. Think of all that has transpired over the past year – the great performance, the quiet wins, the resilience, the growth edges, the opportunities for learning. Now is the time to begin reflecting. What are you proud of? Where have you stretched? Where do you want to stretch next?
Performance conversations, at their best, are not transactional. They are real opportunities to honor success, to realign on goals, to determine what really needs to pause, stop or be approached completely differently to be manageable. Start marinating now to give yourself the proper credit and time for reflection. Look over your calendar, your inbox, your OneDrive or Google Drive for all the evidence of the work you have done that is visible and behind the scenes.
Finally, as February has just concluded and March begins, I want to acknowledge both Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
Black History Month always holds personal meaning for me. It is a time to honor the brilliance, courage, innovation, and sacrifice that have shaped our nation – often against extraordinary odds. And as a Black woman, I also experience the powerful intersection of these two observances. The stories of Black women – leaders, laborers, scholars, caregivers, disruptors, dreamers – have profoundly shaped American history, even when that history did not always fully name or credit them.
Black history is American history. Women’s history is American history. And both are still being written.
In a season already marked by renewal and reflection across faiths and cultures, these observances invite us to expand our understanding of whose contributions we see, whose voices we amplify, and how we continue building a community where belonging is not aspirational, but real.
As we begin our March journey, may this remarkable convergence of sacred seasons, histories, and identities remind us that while our paths may be different, our humanity is shared. If the calendar can come together, perhaps we can, too.
Lead with grace and courage,
Terri S. Winbush
Campus Chief Human Resources Officer
