Christmas is the most memorable holiday of the year for a multitude of reasons. It has a great deal to do with the heartwarming elements that unite people everywhere. While presents are not the main component of the holiday season, they play a decent part in the festivities, nonetheless. There have been some years where I could think of the exact presents I wanted under the tree. However, this Christmas gave me more of what I needed rather than something that can be bought and placed under a Christmas tree.

When many of my family members asked what I wanted for Christmas, I felt almost puzzled to come up with ideas. In all honesty, I felt relieved to finally be able to relax after my very busy first semester at Longwood University. I am thankful for everything that I have learned in and out of the classroom. Being able to find my place at Longwood in a such a short frame of time has been a great blessing for me. Sometimes what a person wants has no real price tag to check out, and I consider my continuous self-discovery to be a tremendous gift that still helps me to this day.

The other main part that I considered a true gift was my ability to finally enjoy Christmas vacation at home with my family and friends. I really missed my momma during my busy days at college. After settling into life at Longwood, I also met a friend who actually lives in the same county as I do. Spending some much-needed relaxation time with family and both my old and new friends served as an absolutely marvelous present.

Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the presents that I received this Christmas, and I'm sure I will think of something else random that I ask a family member to buy for me next Christmas. However, I have simply found that some of the things I want have become slightly less materialistic as I have gotten a little older. Christmas after my first semester at Longwood has helped me with being more appreciative of the little things in life that make a real impact on my life.