As the "most wonderful time of year" is approaching us, we tend to stray from our everyday routines and invest ourselves in holiday traditions and events. Seasonal coffee flavors, presents, parades, food, and sales are just a few of the things people preoccupy themselves with and celebrate during this time of year.

However, it is often that the true meaning of the holiday season can be forgotten, especially when we are distracted by our busy college lives. During the chaos and madness that is Holiday preparation, people will lose sight of what really is important, concentrating only on material objects instead. It is during these months that we are suggested to acknowledge what we truly are thankful for. Showing each other our appreciation and gratitude is the purpose of these winter holidays.

We need to remember the real reason we celebrate.

Instead of frantically running around town looking for that last pair of Steve Madden boots in your size, spend that time at home talking to and relaxing with the ones you love most. Take the time to learn your mom's traditional holiday recipes. Decorate the house with your family. Sit by the fire or share some hot chocolate with loved ones, and watch some Christmas movies. You'll soon realize bringing back the true meaning of the holiday season will make you feel so much more love and cheer than any materialistic gift could. Now don't get me wrong, we should be thankful for certain material objects such as the roof over our heads and the clothes on our backs, but it is too often that people turn this thankfulness into a competition showing off materialistic goods.

Everyone wants it to look as if they have the best life with the best things.

There is a difference between being thankful for having a family lucky enough to give you clothes and gifts versus posting an Instagram picture of yourself where you just happen to be dramatically holding your new Michael Kors purse for everyone to see. We are so wrapped up in the presentation of spreading cheer that we forget to just appreciate the simple joys the holidays give us.

It is always important to recognize how fortunate you are during this time of year, not even for the privilege of having enough money to give and receive gifts, but for the people in your life who love you. Memories with your favorite people should be cherished more than presents. Don't wait for New Year's to become a better person like you said you would for your resolution. The advantage of the holidays is the fact that it presents us with so many opportunities to be kinder and closer to the ones we love.