This year, when I was asked "what do you want for Christmas," I found I really don't want anything. My response was as good as I could make it: books, to fill my brain with different worlds. But really, I want everyone to ignore my wish list. It's not about getting presents or seeing how many things are under the tree. I'd rather celebrate family and being together, the things that are really important. I want to experience life rather than become weighed down with so many materialistic things I one day won't know what to do with.
Which brings me to another little thought of mine, why do humans seem to compile our lives with items to surround us? They're cool and all, possessions can be fun, but they don't bring happiness close to the joy I feel when I'm surrounded by the people I care about. It makes me want to turn Christmas into something more meaningful than what it has widely become: a manic purchasing-crazed time of year starting from Black Friday where people pummel and parade over others just to get the last marked-down TV. Sales! People go crazy. They turn into animals, except worse. Animals don't care about possessing anything (except their humans...and food--just look at Snoopy).
Amazing things happen when people come together. They can create something beautiful out of what seems impossible.
I want to have a Charlie Brown kind of Christmas, with the days impending up to the holiday full of cookie decorating with my family, and spending time by the fireside with my loved ones, instead of trying to beat the crowd to the best sale; instead of trying to find the best presents, wrap them in time, and make sure everyone is satisfied by the (rather empty) feeling of gaining more stuff. To all my friends and family, I am happy to have you in my life. You are all the greatest gift, as is life, and everything I have earned this past year. I am blessed, and it is all I need.
