As we move nearer to Christmas day, songs are playing that tell you that it’s the most wonderful time of the year. You can’t blame the holiday for the state of affairs in the country, but for many people it’s not the most wonderful time. The unemployment rate is still at 8%, but those numbers are more than statistics. Families have been impacted this year and people have lost their homes. Those that are affected may feel down because they can’t buy all the gifts they have in the past years for their children. Those who aren’t affected may be unsure about their future and cautiously are not celebrating the holiday as they would in the past. Either way, this holiday can bring about a feeling of sadness for many people.

The holidays are a joyous time, but they can also remind us of all we’ve lost in the past year. For me, I will be reminded of loved ones that are missing from the holiday celebration. Others may be nursing wounds over lost relationships, lost jobs and homes. Unfortunately, a stressful year doesn’t always dissipate with the ushering in of Christmas trees and carols. There are people that can’t afford to fly home to spend time with their family. But, I’m not saying all this to make anyone feel bad.

Now, more than ever, is a time to remember the true spirit of the holiday. In the past years, we’ve been obsessed with the material aspects of Christmas and people fought rabidly to get their children and family expensive gifts. This year, we must humbly find a way to show people how we feel about them. It’s not about money and expensive gifts. It’s about what is in your heart and how you express it. Your worth is not based on how much money is in your bank account, your car or your house. The loss of those things shouldn’t affect the love that your family has for you. If you have had a rough time, now should be the time when you fold in your family and bask in the love of those that continue to support you. If you can’t be with your family, then it’s the time for you to celebrate yourself. You should pat yourself on the back for all that you’ve gotten through this year. If you’ve spent time beating yourself up, now is the time to build yourself back up.

Being happy is not about life being perfect, because it rarely is. Being happy requires a perception shift. It’s finding the beautiful within the chaos. It’s seeing the rainbow after the storm. It’s easy to get down and focus on what you don’t have, but you may be ignoring all that you have. Being rich is not just about what you have in the bank. Being rich is about recognizing that you are surrounded by love at all times. Even in your lowest moment, love is guiding you because you have love within yourself. Also, if you lost something while you were giving your best, then it’s not a true loss because you proved that you can love. There are no true failures because every loss is a lesson and proof that you can love. Things will come and go in our lives. People will disappear from your life, but only you can decide if you will hold on to the love in your heart. The power to love is always waiting for you to access it.

“Ordinary riches can be stolen, real riches cannot. In your soul are infinitely precious things that cannot be taken from you.”- Oscar Wilde

This will be the most wonderful time of the year, if you can use it as an opportunity to look at all that you have accomplished despite any challenges. There are no setbacks, only resets. The coming year will be an opportunity for you to reinvent yourself.

Happy Holidays to you. And I love you this year and for years to come.