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How Last Christmas Made Me Appreciate This Christmas

Some Christmas presents may not seem great, but they end up being even better.

Dec 20, 2016

How Last Christmas Made Me Appreciate This Christmas

I have changed a lot in a year. I have matured, learned, and grown as a person. I appreciate things more and people more, and I do not take anything or anyone for granted. This holiday season is my favorite time of the year, but last year on Christmas Day my world was sent in haywire. Last year on Christmas Day is when I underwent a change to evoke all of these lessons I have learned. Last year on Christmas Day I was dumped by my person of four years, the person who I was sure I was going to marry, and it broke my heart.

This Christmas I am happy, I am satisfied, and I am whole, but it also is a reminder of how broken I was just a year ago. Last Christmas I waited around all day, home alone, for my now ex-boyfriend to come spend our fourth Christmas together and exchange gifts, only to ultimately receive a text message that he "couldn't do this anymore." Great Christmas present, huh? It seems like the worst Christmas someone can endure, and it was, but honestly he gave me the best present anyone could ever give me.

This Christmas I am surrounded by my loving family, friends, and wonderful new boyfriend. I have been on so many new adventures, taken on life lessons, and met people who have made me who I am. This Christmas I am happy and I love myself, and I was not that way a year ago. This Christmas I appreciate the people surrounding me more than I used to, because things do not always go as planned and I learned that through losing someone I loved. This Christmas I understand the meaning of the holiday: love.

I have all of this this Christmas because of that one unexpected present last year. I'd like to thank him for dumping me last Christmas day; it has been my biggest blessing in a disguise.

*drops mic*

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

It's mandatory to have these conversations.

1. What do you do for a living?

2. What's your favorite color?

3. Do you have any siblings?

4. What's your favorite television show?

5. When is your birthday?

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

13. What is your ideal date night?

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

16. Do you have any tattoos?

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

19. What's the best gift you have ever received?

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

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