The Christmas Air is Different Each Year Part 1

Photo by Ryan Carreon Aragon

Believe it or not, it is.
Sure, we may say, all Christmasses are the same. There's the yearly Christmas rush. We see it in the thick crowds in shopping malls, the looooooong line of road traffic everywhere, the sometimes "annoying", out-of-tune Christmas carols kids sing (pardon the bitterness, but kidding aside, Christmas is incomplete without them); On a happier perspective, there's the Christmas family and friends' reunions, the partying, the 13th month pay.

But every Christmas air is different.

Credit it to experiences and situations we're at during a particular year. These affect that way we cherish, and celebrate Christmas.

Each year we meet different people. No matter how long or short their duration in our life is, they create an impact on us. Some people become good friends. They become sounding boards, our "angels" here on earth. They support us in our endeavors, laughed with us, made pranks with us, and helped us survive difficult days.

Some people become our idols. They become our role models, and influence us to become better, efficient individuals.

Some, we meet to challenge us, shake us from our comfort zones, remind us from being complacent.

Some personal experiences happen to remind us of our lifestyle, and how we view our lives. When things go wrong, and we lose some things, we are reminded that nothing is permanent; When things become overwhelmingly good, it is a reminder of how God loves us; or how the Universe leans on our side, sometimes.

The experiences of the world remind us of life. The successes of others tell us that each one is given talents that need to be honed, talents that need to be shown to the rest of the world; tragedies happen to remind us of the need to go back to our core; to recognize the value of simplicity; contentment in whatever we have; and the love we need to show to each one.

So here's a toast to the Christmas spirit this year. And whatever pains or gains we experience, may these give us all the more reason to celebrate the season. Merry Christmas to y'all! :)

Sometimes You Need to Drift Away...

A year ago, I promised to stay true to my commitments: to actively participate in groups where I belong (there are about three of them, from different fields), submit articles on time, for some magazines I contribute for..etc, etc.

I thought doing such would mean I am doing most of my skill, and that by doing them, I am learning a lot about responsibility and diligence. But realizing it now, it doesn't always hold true. Merely making commitments, and sustaining them do not always equate to efficiency. Sometimes, doing a lot of things weigh one down, until one realizes that he or she is not doing them anymore out of love or passion. Things become repetitive, and one becomes mechanical. This is the danger.

Let go (of the crowd, of commitments, of obligations), if it means you can focus more on other important things like family, close friends, and self.
Drift away, if it means discovering peace.