‘Tis the Season

12 December 2009 in Personal Leave a reply

As one of the biggest fans of Christmas (that I know of, at least), it would seem the season has managed to sneak up on me once again. And considering the fact that this is the second holiday season that has found me unemployed, I thought I would take a little time to write about what Christmas means to me; and why I’m not too down in the dumps about all of it.

Once Upon a Time

I love Christmas. And when I say I love Christmas, I mean… I LOVE Christmas. I’ve loved the holiday for as long as I can remember. The music, the tradition, the atmosphere; it’s an experience, really. And when you’re a kid coming up in a white, suburban, middle-to-upper class family there’s usually a lot of fun toys on Christmas morning too. All-in-all, it’s a solid holiday, and I never really had a bad experience associated with Christmas while I was growing up. There would be pictures taken with Santa at the mall, trees to pick out and trim, presents to wrap, midnight mass to attend, and holiday gatherings with family and friends – gatherings that seemed magical in their own right for the way they removed everybody from their day-to-day routines.

And as I started to grow older I began to find the deeper meaning in everything surrounding the holiday. For folks with a strong religious foundation, it’s a time of year to remember and celebrate. For the slightly more secular it’s a time to be with loved ones and share in the magic of simply being together. And for everyone in between, the holiday manifests it’s own personal meaning, unique to each of us. However I thought it would be fitting to share my own thoughts on the season this year and what exactly it means to me.

Home For Christmas

Like I said, when I was growing up, Christmas never really seemed to be too bad of a time. I was aware of those less fortunate than myself, and even at the age of 5 I felt a strong sense of empathy for those that had to be out in the cold; the people that went without trees and presents, individuals that found the true meaning of Christmas in charity from passersby and a warm meal – people, who in a sense, were a reminder of the real meaning of the holiday. And despite all of the hype surrounding the season, growing up I seemed to constantly be aware of this deeper meaning to the holiday.

The best way that I can think to put it into words would be that the holiday season is about one thing: love. Whether it be through the gifts we exchange or the time that we share, Christmas is a time of love and compassion. Even when the season may feel cast in a shadow, we can bear witness to the influence of love.

A Lesson Learned

When I was (…thinking…) 17 years old, I experienced what I thought was the darkest holiday season my life. I lost a family member in a fatal car accident only three days before Christmas, and it not only shook me but my entire family and extended family. I had never experienced anything like this during the holidays; they were a magical time of year when it seemed nothing bad could happen. But it did happen. An irreversible and painful event that seemed to paint the holiday at its bleakest. Smiles were replaced with sobs, and gifts just didn’t hold the same mystery that they had in previous years. It was a dark time indeed.

But, like a phoenix, out of the ashes rose a restored hope and faith in the holidays. While outwardly the world was crashing down around myself and my family, there was something special about that holiday season. I watched as my family all came together, granted it was for reasons that were tragic; but the power that brought my family together and kept us strong through such a dark time was love. It was love that helped us survive, helped us heal, and in a way – reinforced the meaning of the holiday. Christmas has always been about being with those who matter and sharing in each others’ company; and that’s exactly what that specific holiday season, albeit tragic, drove home to me.

Here On Out

And now here I am: 25, unemployed, living with my parents, and with more than enough reason to be depressed about this holiday season; but I’m not. Why? Because while I do value the chance to exchange gifts with those I love (something that I can’t even financially contemplate this year), what makes the holiday truly meaningful to me is the chance to exchange time and love with those people that matter most.

It’s my own personal interpretation of the season, and while it may not exactly mirror your own thoughts, consider my sharing it an early holiday gift for all of you. If you’re in my life, know that the time we spend together all year round is more special than any gift you could ever give to me. The real meaning of Christmas and the holidays is inside all of us, not a fancily wrapped present.

And to close this (extremely) sentimental (and kinda sappy) post, I thought I’d share a video that I’m sure a few of you have already seen but really struck a chord with me when I saw it. It was aired during the 2008 holiday season, but the message it shares is timeless and warrants repeating.