So, it is Christmas morning (approximately 1 a.m.) Which means another year has come and gone, and it's time to give gifts to all our loved ones. This Christmas was the first in a long time where I had trouble building a list. There's nothing I need and very little that I want. Giving gifts is still just as fun as it has always been, but receiving gifts is starting to lose its appeal.
I guess the problem with building a Christmas list at my age is that the things I want are intangible. As much as I'd love a new pair of shoes I would much rather have a few extra days with my family. And even though I'd like to have some new clothes I'd much rather have another week in Hilton Head with my best friends. The problem is that Santa can't give me more time, he can't make my friends stay in Pittsburgh, and he can't halt my family's lives so they can stay here.
That's just the way it is, and I'm learning to accept it. Every year on Christmas Eve we open grab bag presents in order from youngest to oldest, and every year I see the same faces with one more year under their belt. And I can't decide if getting older scares me or excites me. With every year of life comes another set of opportunities, but with new opportunities comes the fact that yet another year of life has passed us by.
But maybe "passed us by" isn't the proper way to word it. "Passed us by" implies we've missed out. Life shouldn't be passing us by, and hopefully life isn't passing me by.
I don't think it is. I think life is happening and I'm busy living it.
This Christmas I came to a pretty stark realization. Although I was raised Roman Catholic most of my life Christmas has never been about the birth of Christ. Christmas is about family. We used to always go to church on Christmas but it was never so much about church as it was the family being in church together.
So I guess, to me, Christmas is no longer about presents, and it was never about religion, so that means it has to be about family. Family and friends. And time.
Because if there's anything Christmas has taught me it's that time is the greatest present you can get. I know for sure that the best presents I'll get this Christmas are time with family around the dining room table, time with friends in Amanda's living room, and time left to just live.
Enjoy the time you have, everybody.
And Merry Christmas.
I guess the problem with building a Christmas list at my age is that the things I want are intangible. As much as I'd love a new pair of shoes I would much rather have a few extra days with my family. And even though I'd like to have some new clothes I'd much rather have another week in Hilton Head with my best friends. The problem is that Santa can't give me more time, he can't make my friends stay in Pittsburgh, and he can't halt my family's lives so they can stay here.
That's just the way it is, and I'm learning to accept it. Every year on Christmas Eve we open grab bag presents in order from youngest to oldest, and every year I see the same faces with one more year under their belt. And I can't decide if getting older scares me or excites me. With every year of life comes another set of opportunities, but with new opportunities comes the fact that yet another year of life has passed us by.
But maybe "passed us by" isn't the proper way to word it. "Passed us by" implies we've missed out. Life shouldn't be passing us by, and hopefully life isn't passing me by.
I don't think it is. I think life is happening and I'm busy living it.
This Christmas I came to a pretty stark realization. Although I was raised Roman Catholic most of my life Christmas has never been about the birth of Christ. Christmas is about family. We used to always go to church on Christmas but it was never so much about church as it was the family being in church together.
So I guess, to me, Christmas is no longer about presents, and it was never about religion, so that means it has to be about family. Family and friends. And time.
Because if there's anything Christmas has taught me it's that time is the greatest present you can get. I know for sure that the best presents I'll get this Christmas are time with family around the dining room table, time with friends in Amanda's living room, and time left to just live.
Enjoy the time you have, everybody.
And Merry Christmas.
NP: Carry On- Fun.
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