The Christmas season has
always held a special place in my heart for reasons unlike that of others.
Christmases of my childhood were not grand celebrations. From an early age, my
brother and I have known that there was no Santa and that there were years when
presents did not pile up under the tree. There were no December 25th
morning traditions and gifts were given days before because they were often the
clothes we would wear to Christmas day reunions.
Our unconventional holidays,
however, did not take away the glimmer and whim of the season. In fact, the
simplicity of how we celebrated Christmas in our younger years made it even
more meaningful and significant. Because even if there were no Baby All Gone or
Hot Wheel presents under the tree, my brother and I were sure of one thing: mom
and dad would be there no matter what. That no matter how difficult the year
may have been for my parents, they made sure that Christmas was celebrated with
a certain glee in our home: table filled with our favorite food or a day filled
visiting places we adore. The gifts we appreciated the most were not found in
the material possessions but rather in the effort placed to make the holidays
significant.
Through these simple gatherings,
my younger brother and I knew from early on about the things that matter the
most. However, as one grows older and ventures into the world, the meaning of
the holidays can significantly change. Having your own disposable income can
make you a bit materialistic in the first few years of having a job. It can
make you chase after gold and glitter while discarding the gift that matters
most: time.
Christmases past visited my
thoughts while I spent a good part of my Sunday morning waking up my brain for
something to share for my first ever Christmas article. It’s the third to the
last Sunday of the year and while things should be slowing down, they’re not.
Instead, moments leading up to Christmas have become increasingly busy due to
the never-ending Santa list of things to do, people to see, and gifts to wrap.
As I caught my first breather in a week, I have come to remember that the most
significant gifts I have received have not been the most expensive. In fact,
the best presents I have gotten were the simplest ones. Presents become special
when you realize the effort placed by the person giving it, and there’s effort
in choosing gifts, wrapping them carefully and delivering them. The mere
handing over a gift is enough to make one smile.
The holidays often turn us
into grinches because we’re on the edge trying to give the “best” gift while at
the same time staying within budget. While these are bested with noble
intentions, we often forget in the hustle and bustle that what makes the
holidays significant is the time we spend with the ones we love the most. For
what is the point of all things that shimmer when we couldn’t share it with the
ones we love the most? So more than spending time in the mall and bazaars,
spend time with the people you love. Laugh over the year that was, be grateful,
collect moments, not just mementos. And as you enter into the chaotic final
stretch of the Christmas rush, I wish you moments that will make you smile in
the years to come: moments of laughter, joy, peace, and most importantly,
love.
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