The first time we started this DAREBEE tradition I was kinda caught by my neighbor from across the way staring through my kitchen window as at midnight I was doing Burpees to dodge ze incoming snowballs! Every year since we've reached Christmas day leaner, fitter and ready to enjoy some season treats to replenish the energy burnt dodging snowballs.

The Snowball fight has become a tradition that's grown bigger and bigger with each passing year. It's kept us checking on our computers and devices to make sure we don't eat more snow than absolutely necessary (and I can tell you last year, caught on a longhaul flight I ended up eating way more than my alloted share ). More than that though the snowfight is an opportunity for us to let our hair down, talk to each other and just have fun. Every year brings, for each of us, a truckload of unique, personal challenges. This year also brought a collective one in the form of a pandemic that has turned our lives upside down. This is all the more reason perhaps for us, this year, to just goof off a little, throw some snowballs, do some squats and feel that in this at least things are normal (though, obviously, said neighbor will dispute our definition of normal ),

There is a whole lot of goodies coming down the pipeline in 2021, including a podcast, more articles and more programs. In the meantime this is my personal "Thank You!" to all of you here for being you. For showing up even when things were tough. For slogging on even when you didn't even feel like logging on. For not giving up even when the world appeared to be a dark place. The ability to just be here. To exercise when you don't feel like it. To help others muddle through their day when you, yourselves were struggling. These are traits of resilience, fortitude and empathy. The elements that, neuroscience tells us, constitute our true super power.

It is hard to imagine that the year head will be more challenging than this one has been. Nevertheless, even if that were to happen, we all - collectively - and each one alone will get through it as long as we can rely on the contact with each other. The unquestioning support, the mental and psychological decompression, the momentary escape from the Real World pressures that assail us.

The Darebee Team, as a whole, knows you guys are special. Just like you, each of us has been affected by the challenges of this year. On days when things got too much you helped get us through them. So, this is also a thank you from all of us.

And now ... Get ready to Duck!