It’s like a scene out of "How The Grinch Stole Christmas." Everyone is running around crowded stores, worried only about finding all the gifts they need to buy. And here I am, being the little Cindy Lou Who looking around as I’m swarmed by boxes and bags full of Christmas presents, and asking out loud isn’t Christmas about so much more than this?

Sure, the gifts are a nice part of Christmas, and not just receiving them either. Watching someone you care about open a special gift is a priceless moment. It gives you such warm feelings inside, like you just swallowed a whole mug of hot chocolate. I’ll admit, that part is my favorite.

But when did gift giving become this stressful, draining, and all-too-expensive thing? This is where people have started to lose me on Christmas.

This is because Christmas isn’t about Michael Kors bags, flat screen TVs, or GoPro Cameras. You shouldn’t have to drain your bank account every year to make everyone happy. You shouldn’t be pushed and shoved through a store because everyone around you is trying to beat you to the Christmas sales. You shouldn’t have to be afraid of walking out to your car and having someone steal your Christmas gifts.

This isn’t what Christmas is about. This isn’t what Christmas means to me.

Christmas is about family and friends. Surrounding ourselves with loved ones and reminding ourselves of the people we’ve been blessed with in life. Sharing a glass of eggnog on Christmas Eve night with your parents or going out and spreading the holiday cheer with some old friends. Putting behind past disagreements and petty arguments to be with the people who really matter.

Christmas is about love and compassion. Not looking into your neighbor’s bowl to check if they have more than you but making sure that they have enough. Helping out the ones around you who haven’t been able to hold it together this year: the ones who lost their way, lost their families, lost their homes and jobs. Helping out the countless families across the world who have been misplaced because of poverty and war, and letting them know that we stand with them.

I know each and every one of us has at least someone we care about. Whether it be our parents, our brothers or sisters, our best friend, or even our dog. We all have someone that we want to see light up on Christmas Day.

Yes, Christmas is about making your loved ones happy. But when did high-priced things become more important than anything else? Who said that money is the only way to make people happy.

I would take a day with my whole family on Christmas over all the gifts in the world. A day where we didn’t have to worry about the stress of work and school, and we could just sit around the Christmas tree appreciating the fact that we are together. That’s not something everyone can say about their family. So those who are lucky to have all of their loved ones around them, cherish them.

So if you’re feeling the pressure and stress this Christmas to get everything absolutely perfect, remember that all we all ever want, is to be with you on Christmas.