The countdown to Christmas has started and with that, the anticipation of finding out what we’re getting for Christmas grows each day. However, Christmas should be more than that. It is a time to reflect on the year and be grateful to be able to spend time and cherish moments with your family. Typically, around this time of year advertisements try to convince us we need things when in reality we don’t. The feeling of giving is much more rewarding than receiving, and not just to those we know, but to those truly in need. During this time of year, we can readily find opportunities to give to others through toy drives, donations, or food drives. 

Christmas has been portrayed to us most of our lives to make us believe that we are the ones that should be receiving gifts. However, as we grow older we can see in movies, television, books, and real life that Christmas is not about us, and what we want, but about giving. The act of giving does not always need to be done in an expensive manner, it could just be a simple act of kindness or a gesture. One way you can physically give is by donating to local toy drives, luckily PHS students don’t have to go far to donate. If you didn’t have a chance to Adopt-a-Star with ASB, Mr. Newsom is also collecting toys for kids who aren’t as fortunate, donations can be taken to his classroom V-10.

As I mentioned before, another way to give is by being kind to others. It does not take much to make somebody else’s day, all it takes is effort. Effort does not have to be measured in the size of your actions. Something simple as doing something outside of what you normally would do, going outside of your comfort zone, and looking to make an effect on someone else’s life. We see examples of this every day, here at school, at work, and even in the real world. Small gestures show the amount of character a person has. So this year, be sure to celebrate the moments with your family and friends, consider looking out for someone else, and celebrate the little things. 

In the iconic words of Dr. Seuss, “What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more!”
How the Grinch Stole Christmas!