i have mentioned before that this is my favorite time of the year…

any time between mid-November until the first of the New Year is just the most gloriously magical, yet equally stressful, couple of months…

but even with all of the hustle and bustle, the perpetual running around and slew of events, nothing warms my cold, dead heart more than the holiday season.

and of course with all of that comes the endless amount of time spent with family…

but unlike most people who find that to be absolutely awful, i am reveling in the fact that i get to hang out with the individuals that i adore the utmost.

when i was younger, there was nothing i despised more than having to stay at home and spend an evening with anyone other than my friends…

obviously when you are an adolescent, you tend to believe that all parental units suck and FOMO and YOLO forever…

but i think that since we are still so immature in that point in our lives, we have no idea just how much more important that kind of time is, as opposed to constantly wanting to be with our peers.

as i have grown older, wiser and gracefully matured, the level of appreciation, love and respect i have for my mother and father has increased dramatically, and i genuinely look forward to the moments that we get together…

that kind of quality time has become the number one priority on my very short list of vitality.

not to mention, my parents are cool as heck, so really, i am only winning in this situation.

therefore, all of those people who dread this time of the year because they have to make time to reconnect with their relatives, i just do not fucking understand their type.

sure, we all go through some shit with our family members at some point in our lives…

and yes, maybe some of it is unforgivable, and in that case, i get it…

but in the long run, they will be the ones who have been there all along…

and to me, that means everything.

so here is to wishing you and yours a drama-free, relaxing and extremely happy holiday season!

enjoy it while it lasts…

love always,

Shekardaneh Claus