The Holiday Season, which I coin as being Halloween through Valentine's Day (but to each their own), is a season of non-stop food, partying, gifts and more food. It is filled with the hustle and bustle of trying to buy the most perfect costume, getting the turkey just right (not to dry, and definitely stuffing on the inside), worrying about Christmas gifts and if your brother is going to like the shirt you ordered, finding and expensive dress to wear on New Years Eve, and finding that special someone in time for Valentines Day. But aside from all the food and gifts, all the madness and rushing around, the money and time spent trying to get everything just right; the Holiday Season means so much more.

Take away the food. Take away the material items. Take away the music, decorations and money associated with the Holiday's. What do you get? What are you left with?

For a lot of people, people who are caught up in the store bought version of a Holiday, they can see nothing else but the material items that consume so much of the attention during these months. These items determine their happiness during the Holiday Season and are given credit for a "successful" Holiday gathering. But for me, someone who admittedly goes a little crazy during the Holidays, I can do without all of that.

To me, the Holiday Season is about family. Being surrounded by the ones you love and those who love you. Sometimes they drive me crazy, but there is no one I would rather be around during the Holiday's than my family.

Sure the lavish gifts and all the decorations are nice, and I'm not saying that they don't add to the joy, because they certainly do. And believe me, I am the first one to get psyched as soon as I see Christmas lights and garland; but I could also do without them. To me the Holiday season is also about bringing joy to other people. It can be in the form of a meaningful gift that you know that person has wanted for awhile, but it also doesn't have to cost anything. Sometimes the simplest thing, brings the most joy to people. For example, handwritten notes, drawings, and nice gestures. Intimate and meaningful gifts of little to no money are sometimes the gifts that people will cherish the most. The joy that people bring to Holiday gatherings are what make them so special.

This Holiday season, look around you and see what makes your gatherings so special. Is it the people? The meaningful gestures? The overall abundance of joy in the air? Take it all in and ask yourself, what more could you really wish for? Life is too short to take things like family, time, love, and affection for granted. Enjoy the little things and the big things will follow.

P. S. If you happen to be lacking in the area of Holiday spirit, there is nothing like a little Christmas music to cheer you up. (I've been listening to it since October 1st)