Priceless Christmas

     My Christmas is getting more different than it was before. Well I'm pertaining to my childhood Christmases, when you only need to worry about where you would dispose those torn off gift wrappers after opening a pile of Christmas presents under the Christmas tree so mom won't be mad and ruin the moment. This time, no more Christmas vacations (I actually had mine but those were credited to leaves), no more piles of Christmas presents (do godparents forget children who get older?), and no more pamasko and aguinaldo. Well you might notice I may have a materialistic view of Christmas, but there's no more saddening about Christmas when you can never gather your complete family unlike before. Just like my two siblings who consecutively celebrating Christmas seasons outside the country, my sister has already left for abroad this year and this is the first Christmas we did not celebrate together. Not to mention that I am now the last daughter in the family who are still here in the Philippines. This has made me strengthen the point that Christmas is indeed just for children. I thought that 'priceless happiness' is always felt by everybody of all ages, but as much as I wanted to make myself happy, something is always bringing me to the thought that Christmas would never be the same again as you age.

     However, you cannot just spoil the season with nostalgic sentiments by locking yourself up in the past. Though my feeling towards Christmas has been changed, you can never take away that notion that it will be always the greatest time of the year. This Christmas showed me how it feels you make someone happy, unlike those previous year when you only get one-sided happiness - that is when you receive something from your family and friends. Since I got a job this year, this is the very first Christmas when I used my own money to spend for the presents I share with everybody. I may not have the feeling of priceless happiness which I am familiar with, but it felt so wonderful when I saw someone grateful for the little treats I shared with them. And that was priceless! I have seen the fruit of my hardwork in the smiles of the people I shared my happiness with. No matter how grande or simple the presents were, I am and I will be always sure that it was indeed a priceless Christmas for each and everyone.

Happy holidays!

Always,