"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing." - Oscar Wilde

Time to be brutally honest here. I hate the holidays. I used to love Thanksgiving and Christmas when I was a kid. Especially Christmas. Putting up the tree the day after Thanksgiving, decorating the house inside and out, and just the overall feeling that came with celebrating the holidays. But now? The thought of Thanksgiving and Christmas make me want to cringe. To me, these two holidays are just another day on the calendar, bringing us one step closer to the end of the year.

I'm not exactly sure when these feelings of bitterness and irritation started. Maybe the first time my mom and I made the mistake of going Black Friday shopping and I almost got trampled to death. Or maybe it was the first time I realized that people tend to be greedier this time of year than any other time. Something about Black Friday and Christmas turn people into narcissistic, self-centered idiots, and we've all had the unfortunate pleasure of colliding with them at some point in our lives. And then of course you have the people who, for whatever reason, take it upon themselves to rob people at gunpoint or even kill someone over some ridiculous Black Friday bargain they scored. And let's not forget the ones who will steal the packages off your doorstep.

The holidays tend to bring out the uglier side of humanity. Greed. Selfishness. Narcissism. Violence, even. It's ridiculous. When my mom and I were out shopping the night before Thanksgiving to pick up some last minute items, I cannot even begin to tell you the number of people who tried to run me over with their carts in their haste to get their items or get to the checkout line. People fighting over parking spots and driving like deranged maniacs in their hurry to get to their destination. What's even more ridiculous is when you call people out on their foolishness, and their response is: "God bless you" or "You need Jesus in your life. That's why you're so bitter."

Yeah... I'm pretty sure God, Jesus, and I are on the same page about your foolishness and childish behavior, and your ridiculous need to injure someone to get that last 55 inch TV or toy that your kid doesn't need but whatever!

It's as if we've lost the true meaning of the holidays. It's not about presents or bargains. It's not about wrestling with each other over something as stupid as a scarf. It's not about who can give the best gift or who got the most presents. There are so many people who have expressed criticism over others who have chosen to not give their kids Christmas presents, or to put a limit on how many gifts they get. Does your child really need all those fancy things? Yes, they might be nice to have but they don't need them in bulk.

As someone who speaks from experience, my mom spoiled me with Christmas gifts when I was a kid. I had a new Barbie every year. I got a bike. I got an iPod. I got so many things that I don't even have anymore and I've gotten rid of because they took up too much space. Over the years I stopped asking for so many things and started asking myself, "Do you really need it or do you just want it?" Most of the items on my list were things I wanted, not things I actually needed.

It's about spending time with the people that you love. It's about being thankful that you get to spend another year together and get to enjoy each other's company. You might not like Aunt Sally or weird Uncle Jo, but one day, Aunt Sally won't be around to lose her teeth in the turkey, and Uncle Jo won't be there to get drunker than a skunk and then proceed to spill all the family secrets. You might hate them in that moment, but you'll miss them when they're gone.

The holiday are also a time to give back and to participate in something called charity. There are so many people out there who don't have a family to spend the holidays with. There are also people who don't have a warm, dry place to go this time of year. There are thousands of animals stuck in shelters on the holidays who would like a warm house and people to love it.

My advice for you for this holiday season is to be thankful for the people you have in your lives right now, even if you don't talk to each other. Be thankful for what you have and that you get to experience it every day. Instead of spending money on ridiculous things, donate it to charity. Better yet, go work in a soup kitchen and spend time with people who are grateful for your company instead of ones who secretly wish you weren't there or hadn't been invited. Spend time with people who love and care about you for who you are. Be thankful this year instead