To the person who doesn't really love Christmas:

It's okay not to love Christmas. At some point, there came a day in my life where I realized I didn't really love Christmas. I come from a family that was pretty big on Christmas, so when I realized this I thought something was wrong with me. When I would tell people, "I'm not that into Christmas," it seemed like the most shocking thing they had ever heard and I was often even shamed for not liking it, but it's okay.

I hate the winter and the snow. Gifts are expensive. Claymation is scary. Carols get old really fast. Christmas is tiring and it's fine not to like it. A lot of people like to play it like it isn't okay, like you're a Grinch or you're going to ruin Christmas for everyone else, but you don't have to feel ashamed or like there's something wrong with you — Christmas isn't for everyone.

It's easy to get wrapped up in the idea that you're the minority — that every single person loves Christmas and everyone is at their happiest when it's the holiday season. This used to make me even more upset because I felt like I was the only person who wasn't at my happiest during Christmas. That I was the only person who didn't jump for joy with the idea of holiday shopping, Santa's everywhere, or the possibility that it might snow on Christmas day, but that just can't be true.

I may not love Christmas, but that doesn't mean I have to hate the Christmas season — I've had to learn how to find happiness in other ways. Getting and giving gifts is nice and holiday parties are fun. I've found happinness in family and friends, in taking a break from school work, in lights everywhere, and in other people's happiness.