So another Christmas year over and I can say it has been officially way different then last year which is....refreshing I guess.
There is something to say for tradition. Something nice to pass down to further generations and also maybe a nice comfort blanket as well. You know that you won't spend your Christmas eve looking for a Chinese food restaurant that is still open and you won't wake up at the age of 26, still living with your mother who has decided to spend most of her Christmas day at the casino.

So that being said I thought about what is really important to me about the holidays as I found myself taking a spill onto the ice outside of the restaurant with Chinese hanging above my head saved from spilling all over the pavement. What am I really grateful about the holidays as I grab my chopsticks off the floor and pout at the fact my eating utensils are now gone.

After swearing to myself in my car I thought about the previous years. Sure it was weird to wake up and not want to open presents. It was even weird to not even care. The thing I had eager on my agenda was to go for a jog. It was also kind of weird not to have the big family around seeing that we are waiting until new years to get together. The only family I saw this year was my brother and his wife.

I can honestly say that I did miss having the big family around even though when getting together for all of our occasions I practice my skills of tuning in and out of conversations. But it was nice to for once just have a small private get together that was short and sweet. It was a nice surprise when seeing that they randomly come sometimes.

Of course I could end this post about all of my wonderful friends and family because they are so absolutely amazing and I mean that with the bottom of my heart. But since life has thrown me through an interesting loop over the past couple of days I will give back by saying some things that I am grateful for today in a more creative fashion.

So as you recall last year I was incredibly broke. Well, guess what? I'm still broke! but I was able to spend a little more this year then I thought I would and give to people and charities in need that I didn't think I would be able to. It was nice to be able to give and just want to give. I didn't think about getting this year or really care and it was just a really nice change of pace. It made me feel like maybe I'm learning a little bit more about what it means to be....I guess alive.

I've also realized that the news is the best on Christmas day and something that I think I would really watch everyday religiously. It was nice to see so many people giving and helping others out and I know that it's not just the holidays. People are doing amazing things big and small everyday of the year! Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear about it?

Besides being able to eat wonderful food, wake up in a warm house today when I went for a jog the snow storm started right as I was returning. Just small tiny flakes that scattered randomly on to the ground. It was so beautiful and so quiet.

Well, I suppose I'm done with my cheesy Christmas post. To balance my self out I'll end on the one thing that I don't think I'll ever be grateful for and that is the Clay Aiken Christmas figure skating special. never.