"The holidays mean laughter and joy, smiles and music, happiness and giving, and most of all it means family. It's a time for family to come together and set aside their schedules to share all the joy, laughter, music, and happiness. It's a time for homemade food and for love to be shared. As we grow up, we each acquire a very different schedule, but even with our hectic lives, everything is the same for us during the holidays: a break that enables us to all meet back in the middle and set aside our differences to share and receive (and enjoy) the life we've all been given together." - Maddie, 20
"It makes me happy. I love when it starts to get cold and I get to drink lattes and wear sweaters. I love celebrating all the special occasions with my family and friends. It makes me want to throw ornaments at people...literally." - Nat, 17
"It's honestly the same as any other time of the year in Miami, hot as f*ck. Oh, and I'm allergic to pine trees so I can't even go to Publix." - Luis, 19
"The holidays are just a time I can appreciate my family a little more than usual, and they give a new meaning to my life for the coming year." - Iggy, 21
"To me, this time of year means spending quality time with people I spend my entire semester away at school missing. I also look forward to the holidays because everyone carries around a good attitude and the environment around you completely changes!." - Kristen, 19
"All in all, I like this time of the year 'cause everyone's in a good mood. I also get to buy presents, which is one of my favorite things because I love seeing people happy off of something I did for them. The holiday season gives me time to reflect on the end of another year in my life that I've been given, while looking forward to the start of a whole new chapter of my life. Oh, and I got invited to a holiday party up in NYC, so that means I could possibly find my wife." - Tarik, 21
"This time of the year means that everyone is happy and everyone is spreading joy to their friends and family. It's a time for giving back to people who need it and also the people who love you. The holidays are an opportunity to reconnect with people you lost touch with, and to help, grow, and reflect! It's a time full of opportunity." - Justin, 19
"The holidays mean so much. Dark lipstick stains on my coffee mugs, cute boots and scarves worn with a wanting of a cold night, endless Christmas shopping lists, and not having to share my boyfriend with his far away studies. Also, counting down the days to put my resolution into action. The holidays mean, to me, being surrounded by happy family and friends enjoying each other's company, making memories for the finale of the year and welcoming in new ones with happy faces and hopeful wishes." - Rachel, 21
Although this time of the year is unique to each and everyone of us, whether we are coming home from being away at school, or taking a few days off of work to enjoy the presence of loved ones, it is a time we all look forward to to spread love and joy. We mustn't forget the true meaning of the holidays while we get caught up in the gift giving and receiving. I think as we grow, we tend to appreciate the little aspects of the holidays more-so than when we were younger. Take the time to reflect on what this time of the year means to you, and be grateful of the people who make it to wonderful. Your parents, your best friends from home, your boyfriend or girlfriend. Let them know that they are lighting up your holidays; I promise they will appreciate that more than the gift you bought them on Black Friday.
Happy Holidays,
NG
