Christmas: the very word brings up a ton of emotions. While some people anxiously await the holiday season all year long, others wish they could avoid the stress that comes along with it all together. When did Christmas lose the magic it once had? When did our favorite holiday become just another day to get out of the way? And most importantly, when did we forget what Christmas is really about?

As a child, I remember how exciting the entire holiday season was. Everything from the lights to the candy canes, to the new toys wrapped and waiting under the tree was extra special. All that was expected of you was to make a list and wait for the calendar to change to December 25th. Now, as a young adult, all I can think about is the new responsibilities I have and how they will continue to multiply. There's so much stress about making everything "perfect". There's a need to have the perfect gifts, the perfect decorations, and the perfect experience overall. With the media's constant reminders to buy this, make this, and do this, it's easy to fall victim to the idea that your holiday is lacking in some way. It can become so overwhelming that even our once beloved Christmas carols are enough to give us headaches.

It's the same stress of perfection that causes people to become nasty during a time when we are supposed to be loving each other. We've all heard the horror stories about people getting into fights over TVs or literally knocking someone over to be the first in line to buy the newest iPhone.

But when it really comes down to it, why do we feel the need to complicate things? Christmas is supposed to be a time of joy, so why don't we start making it that way? Let's set aside the overwhelming expectations and try to actually enjoy the season. Take a break to think about what Christmas is really about: spreading love and happiness to others. This doesn't have to be a difficult endeavor. Simple acts like donating money to a charity, writing a kind note to someone who is struggling or helping someone carry heavy packages goes a long way.

It's okay if your holiday doesn't line up with what is in the ads seen on TV or in the catalogs flooding your mailbox. Take a deep breath, make yourself some hot chocolate, and gather your friends and family all together. You will find that what's most important is what you did to make Christmas special for others. And a lot of the time, you don't need a maxed-out credit card to do that.