Christmas is only 12 days away. The New Year is withing reach. Now is the time of year where we forge some of our most fond memories. I have so many memories of Christmas past, going out and looking at Christmas lights as a family, Christmas parties, service projects, time with loved ones, and of course waking up super early to get the most out of Christmas day.
The older I have gotten, I am 26 now, the more I realize how precious these days become. The White family is no longer under one roof. My Sister is in the mountains, I am in Raleigh, and Mom and Dad are in Roanoke Rapids. Christmas is even more important to me because it means time with my family. In fact, all of the holidays that we can spend time together is an added bonus.
25th of December also marks the last time I will celebrate Christmas not being married. Scary? I don’t think so, in fact, I am extremely excited to marry my wonderful fiance Jordan. May 17th will be here before we know it, and I could not be more optimistic about our journey together.
What is the secret to a Merry Christmas? The answer is not any different than the secret to a happy life. Forget yourself and think of other, appreciate what you do have and be grateful for that, don’t be thankless for what you do not have.
I need to be more aware of my thoughts and actions, I need to forget about myself more and enjoy the present moment. We all have to have an eye towards long-term growth, but it would be a huge disservice to the here and now if that is our only concern.
Challenge yourself to stay in each moment, especially this Christmas season. Savor your time with loved ones. Give time to those who need to be uplifted. Don’t become entangled in the materialism of Christmas, focus on the true meaning. I promise this will give you more peace and happiness than any present under the tree!
Nunc Coepi 