2023-12-22 19:51:29
Christmas is approaching and therefore the end of a busy year. I know that 2023 has been trying for many of you, and it has been for me too.
This year I turned 30. I believe that the last 365 days have been those that have made me grow the most as a person, mother, spouse, work colleague and friend. I went through difficult times on a personal level, like everyone else, which made me see life from a different perspective.
When I was young, I believed that luxury and money necessarily demonstrated a person’s success or happiness. I dreamed of driving a big car, having a gigantic house and spending my vacations in sunny Hawaii.
The reality is that I’m far from it at 30 years old. I drive a small, economical Kia on gas, I live in a beautiful house that is not a castle and I spend my summers on the beaches of Miscou and Cap-Pelé.
Yet when I stop to think regarding my life, I smile. The older I get, the more I realize how lucky I am.
I may not have an Audi, but my Kia still allows me to be free to travel, while being economical and at an affordable price. I’m not ashamed at all of making a functional choice.
My house may not be worth a million, but it is located near the sea which whispers its songs to me every evening at bedtime. It is filled with love, children’s laughter, cat hair and the smell of carefully cooked food.
In the end, it was exactly the home I had always dreamed of.
I had always imagined myself traveling several times a year, but today my most beautiful trips are the ones I take every day with my son and my family. These outings to the park, to the pool, to the arena which are filled with joy and precious moments.
And what can I say regarding how lucky I am to have my health? This gift of life, so fragile, which can slip from our fingers overnight and which we often take for granted.
The truth is that as we age, we learn to prioritize the true riches of everyday life. Because as we get older, we see life in its true light: we have suffered, hurt and faced enough difficulties to have a sharp outlook on the world.
We may not have everything we want in life, but there is always good somewhere when we take the time to open our eyes wide.
Some may not have as many gifts as they wanted under the tree, but at least they will have a warm home in which to celebrate the holiday season.
The turkey may be smaller in some homes, but there will be lots of potatoes and people who love each other around the table to share this good meal together.
And even if we won’t have a white Christmas, with its snowmen and improvised ice rinks, we are lucky to live in a country where we can be free to determine our destiny. Or one can receive free health care, access quality education and be safe.
Aren’t these the best Christmas gifts there are?
1703275787
#beautiful #gifts
