Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

What would you rather have: all the bells and whistles and be miserable or not have as much and be content?

Take a minute and ponder that thought while I explain how I feel. Yesterday was the first official day of winter, and the temperature the last couple of days reflected that. As we move closer and closer toward Christmas, we should take time to realize the importance of what we have and not what we want.

The holidays can be either a joyous or difficult time. Personally, I cannot decide which one of the two it is for me. Of course, I am excited to spend time with my family and friends and exchange gifts with one another. On the other side of the spectrum, it will be the first Christmas with both my parents gone. I’m sure God is taking great care of them above, and they would be proud of me for pursuing my dream job as a writer.

It’s not about the hottest toys of the season. It’s not about living a life of luxury and getting everything on your list. It’s about treasuring the moments we have with one another and being grateful for the simple things in life. We are living in difficult times with the pandemic surging once again, people losing their loved ones, and the idea we do not know what to expect on any given day.

Life can sometimes deal you an unfriendly hand, but we have to take that and learn from it. I value all the family moments I spent with my parents Frank and Linda when they were alive and well. As I get older, those memories will always be etched in my mind. Although my parents were traditional and very much old-school, they were that way for a reason. I am who I am today because of them and would not trade that. They raised me to treat others like you want to be treated and respect your elders.

I would give anything to have them back with me on Earth, but at the same time, I would not want them to be suffering. They are better off in the friendly skies above and having a great time with my sister Kim. Yesterday was six months for me at the Andalusia Star-News, and I am truly blessed to have achieved so much in so little time. Everything happens for a reason, and while it took 10 years to reach this point, God made me wait for a reason. The only way to go from here is up.

This is not the year to get everything you want. This is the year to appreciate everything you have.