Five minutes past the eleventh hour at night, as I calmly sing "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas" - yes, a little strange - and I'm feeling it timely and appropriate to write a new entry. I blogged very little in 2009 compared to my usual rate of blogging and for an avid writer, I can't say I approve. Admittedly, I also find it rather distasteful to be writing about a season already somewhat over; though seeing as the snow doesn't seem to be bothered; for now, neither shall I.

I'll begin by taking a retrospective look at what the festive celebrations taught and reminded me. First of all, it taught me sick people should have the kind etiquette to stay away from healthy people. I spent the week leading up to Christmas with a rather unwelcome body aching, bowel churning and head hurting illness, to which I'm sure I can thank one of my sister's Mommy friends. It may have been Christmas, a celebrated time of giving, but I was certainly not grateful for receiving this lady's germs and I can assure you I did not send her a ‘thank you' note.

Though I'm not a sucker for the commercial aspect of Christmas, I do have fun shopping for presents people hope to receive. Most of the fun was spent on what to get my nephews, but I spared some fun for the adults as I love bringing out the kid at heart. For my elder nephew however, I wanted to get him an mp3 player so he could start listening to his growing collection of music in a more portable and personal way. Actually, not at all expecting it, he loved the mp3 and listens to it at every opportunity he gets.

For my younger nephew, I didn't have anything particular I wanted to get him - my sister made sure of everything he wanted - so I searched around thinking about what occupies his attention. Eventually I came to the rational decision that he'd love a Toy Story remote control car, included with both Buzz and Woody figurines. Unwrapping his present on Christmas day, no thought spared for the wrapping paper, I watched as his little cherub face smiled with satisfaction. The enjoyment was indeed a gratifying moment for me also.

I won't list what I got the elders; that's rather unnecessary. Instead, I was reminded how no matter our age, there's still a child within, hoping and dreaming of something that we've always wanted, but maybe never received. Sometimes we give just for giving's sake and at times we allow ourselves to be in a rush when searching for something we hope will be meaningful. So while they say it's the thought that counts, the thought is well and truly the notion, that what we really give as a well thought-out present is the utmost of our love. That's the true gift of giving and receiving, and one that should be celebrated the whole year through.

Before Christmas day mind you, I went to midnight mass. In fact, it was the first time I had attended mass since the midnight mass the year before. Anticipating church each Sunday but never actually going, I began to sense just how quickly time passes. I always wondered whether my relationship with God became a little distant the more I skipped mass. Was it enough to still pray on a daily basis or was I slowly losing faith? And was God still waiting to catch me in the event of a trip and fall?

It became clear in my heart that the more I was away from God; the more he was allowing me to fend for myself. No matter how strong I feel I am, I'll always be a great deal stronger with God's loving hands over my heart. For this reason, I am reminded that I must make a stronger effort to attend mass; because I know without it, I'm neglecting an integral part of my faith, spirituality and my love of God. After all, one cannot see the bigger picture in the world if lacking all the necessary tools to get there.

Skipping the rest of Christmas day and the days which followed, then came New Years day; my family's celebrations turned out not to be anything too inspiring this year, which is of course a shame. I feel like my family often miss the point actually, as if with their withering age, so too are their spirit. Perhaps it's the optimist in me, the romanticist even - and I'm sure this is a general consensus - but I like to see New Year's as a resurgence of hope for everything we want to achieve in life. And as an opportunity to forget all the things we want to leave behind, it's also an opportunity to regain all the things we might've lost.

One thing New Year did remind me though, is how we can make the same mistakes in the New Year as we did the year before. An easy habit to fall into and perhaps a sign of lessons never really being learnt; but an untold gift of this fresh start we call the New Year, is that everything we are and everything we can do is blessed with each new day given to us. And I guess that's my resolution for the year ahead; to keep making the most of each day and of my god given life.

So while I may have missed a toast to the New Year, here's a toast to what's still a fairly new, 2010. Not all things will be welcome; but never let the bad stop you from still seizing the day.

Until soon again,

Someguy