Winter break and the end of the semester is the perfect opportunity to take a breather and put a hold on studying and hard work. Sometimes we get so caught up in setting goals and working towards our future that we forget to give ourselves a break and focus on the more important aspects of life. For many, life is full of one accomplishment after another to achieve, a destination to reach, milestones to experience. We are constantly moving and trying to do everything. We need to stop occasionally and appreciate ourselves, our friends, our family and what our lives have to offer.

The holiday season is one of the few times a year that brings family and friends together. The spirit of the holidays and traditions give people the chance to look past any problems or differences to spend quality time together. Even families who live far away from each other and rarely get to see one another have a few days to reconnect. During these significant times of the year, we spread love and happiness. I realized once I started college that I spent less and less time with people I was close to. I was so busy with school work and adjusting to a new environment that I lost some contact with friends and family. I want to be able to have close and loving relationships with each and every family member. School made it more difficult but not impossible. I found that I needed to take a step back once in a while to reach out and stay connected with the people most important to me in my life.

My only other family that lives in the United States includes my mom's younger sister, her husband and two children. One of my cousins is just one year older than me. We used to be really close growing up together, but since she moved to New York and started college, we have definitely talked less. Thanksgiving and winter breaks allow us to reunite and catch up. It's crucial for me to get time away from school to stop worrying and stressing out about grades and work. Gaining an education is incredibly important and helpful, but maintaining long lasting relationships with family and friends is necessary and irreplaceable. I hope to never take the people I love for granted. I don't want life to get too busy or too fast for me to stop and appreciate what I have. We should stop racing through life and just be in the moment.