“I want… I need… Can you get me…?” All things we ask as we are making our Christmas list. We sit down and make a list of things we either desire to have or think we need, when we should really be grateful for the company, mood, food, and memories Christmas brings.

Don’t get me wrong, I am as guilty as anyone with what I ask for each Christmas, but as time goes on and I mature, I realize presents are not what the holiday is really about. It’s about waking up in the morning, sitting around the table and eating breakfast together. All in one place at the same time… which is rare for my family. It’s about catching up on what we haven’t talked about since we’ve last seen each other. It’s about sharing memories from your families past times. It’s about the people you’re with, not the gifts you get. We only get the opportunity to see each other once to twice a year, so I cherish the time spent with them more than anything else.

I love Christmas. I love the atmosphere it brings, the music, the warmth you feel, and the memories each year brings. I hope everyone looks at Christmas a little bit different this year. Start appreciating the intangibles rather than always looking for more tangibles. Don’t look at it as what present you didn’t get, or who got the better gift, but what you did get; what you already have.

I not only have a house to live in, but a home to always go to. I have the most supportive family I could ever ask for. I have friends whom I am grateful for every day. I am receiving a great education while playing the sport I love. I’m healthy and living my life. Although Thanksgiving is the holiday many people give thanks, Christmas is another holiday to be thankful for. Every day is really.

Have a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year everyone!