As another holiday season arrives, I take the time to reflect on what it means to me. I celebrate Christmas. My family is Catholic, but I'm not. I don't know what I believe religiously. All I know is that I love Christmas.
I celebrate snow and all that it symbolizes: a new beginning. I wait patiently for the first snowfall, to catch snowflakes on my tongue, make snowmen, and throw the occasional snowball. I celebrate relationships and the people I take for granted everyday, like the person at Starbucks who makes my coffee for me or the cashier at the grocery store. Although my Christmas Eve toast tends to include a "Happy Birthday baby Jesus!", I don't celebrate him. I celebrate good food and the time it takes to prepare. I celebrate nature; the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree. I buy and make meaningful yet useful gifts for my family and friends, and I celebrate the joy they get from those gifts and the joy this brings me.
During the holidays, I enjoy curling up with a good book and peppermint hot chocolate. I celebrate relaxing and tie to myself. Exams may stress me out, but I celebrate how much I've accomplished in the past term.
The holiday season is a time to take a step back and look at everything you have in your life. Starting with Thanksgiving, I reflect on why I'm thankful for everything I have, and then celebrate each. The season moves slowly for me; each day seems to pass in the perfect amount of time. Weather and stress don't put a damper on my joy, because I celebrate them too.
Have you ever taken the time to just say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" to random people as you walk through your life in the holiday season? Whether it's just someone you held the door for, or the delivery person who brings your groceries or late night pizza? To see the smile and the happiness it brings them is enough. It's the little things that should be celebrated.
-----
Radix article, originally published in January 2008 by Emily Miller
Browse the full Radix archive here.
What to read next:
