Happy Holidays!

I remember that when I was a kid, I couldn't wait until Christmas is here. As an adult, I feel stressed by the holiday bustle, particularly because it coincides with final exams. On top of that, I get a bit put off by the hypercommercialism. What do I want for Christmas? Why, nothing I didn't already want before and after Christmas every year. There's always something that I want, there's always something that everyone else wants. Christmas is just an excuse or opportunity (whichever way you choose to see it) to throw caution to the wind and buy all the things we've been coveting.

I hope that no one is falling into that trap.

Despite my cynical views on Christmas, I do feel the warm and fuzzies of the holiday spirit. It is a time to treat yourself if you've been working hard all year and didn't have a chance to enjoy the fruits of your labor. It is a time to show your friends and family that you care about them--if not with gifts, then with words of kindness. It is a time for reflection--what was good, what was bad, and what we can do to rectify the bad. What ultimately triumphs over materialism is the sense of community. Instead of thinking about what I'm going to get for Christmas, I cherish the opportunity to talk to or meet with friends and family that I haven't seen in a long time. Christmas is the one time in the year when I have time and they have time. In a world where we have to check our schedules to see if we have time to meet with our friends, having a universal set of days off is certainly a blessing.

Since Christmas is only days away, my room has transformed into Santa's Little Workshop, where gifts are wrapped and made. Through the holiday rush, I feel a strange sense of ease as I look back at this tumultuous year. There were many lows, but I also had a lot of personal growth and much to be thankful for. I'm going to enjoy a lot of face time with my friends and family who helped me get through it all; IM, email, and cell phones will never channel the joy garnered through personal interactions.

Thank you for reading and leaving encouraging comments, especially when I was having a rough time. It's been a pleasure writing for you this year. I wish you and yours a very happy holiday, and best wishes for the New Year. Have fun, stay safe, and I'll see you (figuratively speaking) in 2007!