It’s finally December, my favorite time of the year. The weather is cold and brisk, snow is finally a true possibility, and there’s magic in the air. Ever since I was little, I loved Christmas. Everyone coming together and sharing gifts with one another. Naturally, when I was little, I loved the receiving end the most. Sure it was fun to give a present too, but I was no saint and receiving a shiny new toy made me so excited. Now that I’m older though, I prefer giving gifts to receiving them. Don’t get me wrong, I love getting presents as much as the next person, but there is something special about making somebody else happy.
With Christmas though, comes The List. Every year following Thanksgiving dinner, my sister and I are told to sit down and write out our Christmas wishlists. When I was little it was fun, but over time, I’ve decided that lists are unnecessary. I no longer have pages of toys I want, it’s hard to think up a whole list of items. Sure, a wishlist can be helpful when receiving one, but I decided this year that I wasn’t going to wait for them. My Christmas shopping for my family has been done for a while now.
I’ve come to really love handpicking the perfect, heartfelt present, uniquely tailored for each individual. I love the rush that I get when someone looks at me with wonder in their eyes over the present that I thought of for them all on my own. If I can pinpoint the item that someone didn’t even realize they wanted until they received it, then I’ve done my job. To me, there is nothing better than knowing someone so well that you see something and instantly think “this is what they need.” So, I’d say my reasons for not liking Christmas lists are pretty fair. Who knows, maybe my dad won’t make me write one next year.