If you didn’t know already, then you should know that I am a Chi Omega. One of the most important things to our entire sisterhood is our contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants wishes to children battling life threatening medical conditions. During reading period and finals week at the University of Rochester, my Chi Omega chapter held a campus event for students to participate in the Macy’s Make-A-Wish Campaign by writing letters to Santa, which the sisters delivered at the conclusion of our week long event. We had letter stations set up around various library locations for students to write a letter as a fun study break, that also helps a great cause. For every letter written to Santa and dropped off at a Macy’s store or sent online until December 24th, Macy’s would donate $1, or up to $1 million to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Macy’s also introduced a new Wish Writer stylus that can also write and send letters to Santa and is featured in the video below.
Look at my wonderful sisters tabling during our “Letters to Santa with Chi Omega Event” and...
...then delivering the letters to Macy’s.
Since 2003, Macy's has raised a total of $90 million for the Make-A-Wish Foundation with the help of believers who write letters to Santa each year.
So, I decided to write my own wish or letter to Santa, not necessarily for Christmas, but for the entire holiday season and beyond.
Dear Santa,
My wish is that more people find kindness, love, health, and happiness. I have seen people be rude, inconsiderate, and ungrateful, even during the season of giving. I wish that people would be kind, just for the sake of helping someone or improving someone’s day, and not expecting something in return. We care about money, sometimes over the people in our lives. I hope people learn to give more than they take.
I hope people can also find love. George Sand (Amantine-Lucile-Aurore Dupin) said, “There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.” People are quick to think money equals happiness. Money does not grow on trees and neither does happiness. Love is one of the most powerful gifts we can give. Being loved gives strength, and loving another deeply gives courage. With love all things are possible.
The more time I see children with illnesses and elderly people with health issues, the more I am thankful for my own health. I wish that others would be so lucky and not have to suffer in hospitals and with large medical bills. A close family friend passed away from cancer as I returned home from school, and my 5-year old cousin Matthew (also a Make-A-Wish child) who continues to stay strong in his fight against cancer, so I wish that all of those fighting sickness be brought into good health. I wish them healing and continued support from those near and far.
Lastly, I wish that more people find happiness. It can be happiness in a moment, happiness in a career, happiness in finding a loved one, happiness in running, or happiness in drinking coffee. Whatever it may be, the world needs more happiness. Albus Dumbledore said, “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” I wish that people will find their light and their own happiness, but maybe they need to be guided to it first.
I wish that people will find kindness and love in their hearts to grant happiness and health to those that can especially use it this holiday season. They can donate their time, money, gifts, prayers, or even small gestures that show they care.
The world could use more kindness, love, health, and happiness, but so can all those touched by cancer, and Santa, I think you can make that all possible.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Tiffany
