Merry Christmas to All

On what will definitely go down as the most relaxing Christmas ever, I am feeling the need to give a global Merry Christmas to my wonderful friends and family. Most people get very stressed out around the holidays. Too much to do...too little time. Sometimes you're buying presents for people who you would rather not buy presents for. More often than not (which is unfortunate) you're spending time with people who you spend the remaining 364 days of the year avoiding like the plague. The list goes on and on.

Here's where I have a different take on the holiday season in general. If I do get stressed out during this time it's because I never seem to have the kind of money that I would need to buy everyone what I want to buy them. This of course is usually some out-landish (incorrect spelling) gift that no one in their right mind would buy but I know that that person really wants it and that's what it's all about for me. I get such joy and appreciation out of seeing other people happy or if it works out that my actions are what made them that happy - bonus. As many of you know, I have been very blessed to be happy pretty much every day of my life - and that's with credit card debt pouring out of my ass and something like $3000 of inequity in my 2003 Honda Civic. And you know what... I could care less.

I look at every day as an opportunity to have as much fun as possible and learn a little along the way. And that's what I think we should all do around the holidays. Sure you have millions of people coming out of the wood work to buy presents because they feel obligated to do so. And this in turn puts all kinds of aggressive drivers on the road thus creating incredibly angry people everywhere you turn. And do you wanna know what I say to these people? Merry Christmas.

Quick story - I was walking over to Salt Creek Grille with my boss the other day and a car cut in front of us as we were crossing the street and nearly ran us over. As they turned I noticed that they had a New York license plate. So, being me, I scream - OF COURSE YOU'RE FROM NEW YORK!!!!! Normally this would be the end of this story. We would get a couple laughs and go and enjoy some of the best calamari ever. Instead, this woman had to butt her nose in my business as she overheard my blatant outburst and instead of just going about her ordinary day, she proceeds to say to me, "Was that necessary? You're completely mental." So instead of enjoying a funny moment, I had a stranger tell me that I was mentally insane I think is what she actually said. And do you want to know what I said to her? You're very smart. I said Merry Christmas and went ahead and had a phenomenal lunch.

As Christmas of 2009 comes to an end...probably sooner for me since I have been hungover most of the day today...I encourage all of you to really enjoy every day that you can this upcoming year. I went ahead and did that in 2009 and it has been..hands down...the best year of my life.

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night.