It's the holidays, one of the best but worst times of the year. Family togetherness, good food, and awesome presents are apart of the year. The frigid cold, beating the mean crowds at the mall, and spending your life savings on gifts is not what's in mind of a great way to ending the year. We all love giving those gifts though, and it's most possibly the best part of the holidays. I know buying my son his gifts and anticipating his face when he sees that Santa came to town on Christmas morning will be the pay out of all the madness of shopping and Christmas time. The only issue is that with the cold and the holiday rush, the deepening feeling of depression comes into play.

When everything is cold, dreary, and looking like death, you may feel like that is all you want to be. Dead. I know the feeling because the past week I have felt like I have been in a funk. You can feel like everything is on your plate and you are trying your best, but your best is never good enough. I think if your like me and work in retail, it just makes things worse because people are not so jolly when they are holiday shopping. If you work in retail during the holiday season, and while you are getting yelled at that their son or daughter will have a terrible Christmas and it is all your fault, keep in mind that this is only a season, and you're are not the reason little Timmy is getting nothing for Christmas. All the yelling and cursing can get to anyone, it used to get to me as bad as anyone. Then I realized that I need to give myself a good gift. I need to love myself.

Now, I am not a perfect person. Some days suck, and I get mad at myself for stupid things that I do; but I have found since I started writing that my self love has gone up. Everyone needs some self love. First, the best way for anyone to achieve anything in this world is to love ourselves before anyone else. We are the only ones that can truly know what we want. You want to become a doctor? Go to school, get that degree, and achieve your dreams. You want to be a musician? Pick up that instrument, play some shows, and get that record deal. Anything in life is achieved if you realize that you, yourself, is so much more important than anyone else. Now with that said, do not hurt others with your self love. There is a difference between self love and just being a complete and total asshole. Self love is simply bettering yourself and your mood to be happier for other people.

In all my years of living I have never been so serious. Loving yourself is the only way to get to a point to love other people. So, put a bow on your head, get under the tree, and tell people you are a gift. You are. You should know it. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!