Christmas reminds us of the things that matter most: family, friends, love, and peace.  What you might want to get under the tree seems less relevant when you realize how lucky you are to have the people in your life.  The people that love you and appreciate your presence in their life.

My students had an assignment before they left for Winter Break: to write about their greatest wish.  I’m happy to say that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM wrote they wanted to be with family members they were missing or loved ones they had lost.  It was heart warming to know that these kids of today, they really get what matters: people.  You must take time for the people in your life.  Even a stranger sitting at a bus stop can have a profound affect on you, if you allow it.

I met Mike while hanging out waiting for the bus in Big Bear to take me up to the zoo from the village.  I could have taken my car, but the parking at the zoo was off the hook (the ski resort across the street was crazy busy) and I thought it would be fun to look at Big Bear Lake from a different perspective.

Mike is an artist and a genuinely happy fella.  He’s in his twenties, but he’s already had his heart broken by gals who did not appreciate him.  Then, he met Jessica,  He talked about her on our trip up to Bear Mountain.  He showed me pictures he drew, he read me his “poetry.” I discovered that I had bumped into and was enjoying the conversation of a genuinely happy man.  It was such a pleasure talking to you, Mike.  Thank you for reminding me that there are happy men in this world. And I will be happy again.  It will take time.  But, there IS light at the top of the tree.

That brings me to my Christmas Wish.  Well, it’s very simple.  I want to be happy.  I also want others in my life (and out of it) to be happy too.  I want to be happy in my relationships with the people around me. If someone feels the need to run away from me, I’d really rather not be around someone like that.  Honestly, it’s a real hit to your self esteem to have someone say they want to be around you at one point and then run away from you. It just plain hurts.  And, I’m sick of hurting.  In my next post, I’m going to make a few New Year’s Resolutions.  But, right now, I’m enjoying a rebirth of sorts.

A rebirth of saying “Yes, I deserve to be happy.”

I wanna be like Mike!  I wanna be happy. I do not have to live with a situation that makes me feel bad because I want to grow and be better than I was last year.  It’s human nature to want to evolve and change.

I want to meet someone who I can lean against and KNOW he will be there if I need him.  I want us to share a life together: our days, our nights, I wanna cook him breakfast.  I want him to cook me breakfast.  I want to be able to say, “Hey! Let’s head off to an adventure,” and he says, “Let’s Go!” I’m looking for my best friend, my sweet heart and my partner.  If he’s into something I’m not – no problem.  He does his thing sometimes and I do mine.  Clingy guys are just NOT my style.  But, I do want him to care where I am and if I’m OK. I want us to grow – together.

My greatest wish also includes the people who have touched my life, but who are no longer in my life.  Thank you for being in my life.  I always hope we can meet again and have a much longer run the next go around.  In a perfect world, no one would keep anyone out of their life.  Sometimes, unfortunately, it is necessary to move forward.  I miss each and every person who is no longer with me, but looking at the larger picture, I see there must be a reason for their departure from my life.  Some folks cannot handle the way I choose to live my life, others cannot get past voices of the past or of bitterness and resentment. Still others have addictions that I do not wish to tolerate in my life. When someone chooses an addiction over time with me, I need to move on. I feel very sorry for these people. They are missing out on a person who chooses to be kind (probably too often) and forgive.  I do forgive them.  I forgive all of them.  But I will not forget how they made me feel.

Jesus is said to have come to our world to teach mankind that we deserve God’s love and forgiveness.  Being Jewish myself, I do not require Jesus’ reminder.  Jews have a beautiful prayer that we sing on Friday nights after we have silent meditation.  In English it’s called, May the Words of My Mouth.” It’s a very short song, that actually comes from Psalm 19.  The words call out to God, our Rock and our Redeemer…

I do appreciate the Christian spin on the message that love and forgiveness are good for all of us.  They not only help our world keep moving forward, but they help individuals move forward.  You don’t forgive others for them. You forgive others to unleash yourself from bitterness and pain.

Jesus loved everyone.  He is called by Christians  “the Prince of Peace.” He was a rabbi and he taught us to love one another. I’m sure he was inspired by these words in the Bible. The soul wants to feel it’s worth. We all want that “thrill of hope” that comes when someone we care about forgives us.  So for those of you sketchy scribes who are still with me, here’s a slice of divinity.  IMy greatest wish is that you feel an overwhelming sense of love and forgiveness this Christmas.  I want you to know that you have the same right to be happy in your life choices.  We all deserve to be happy.  We all deserve comfort and peace.  Your beloved cosmic VJ sends this out on this quiet Christmas night.  Here is the beautiful voice of a beautiful man –  Josh Groban singing, “O’ Holy Night.” Merry Christmas.  XXOO