So, This is Christmas.

For most of us, Christmas is a time for reflection; it's hard not to get nostalgic during the holidays. Our best and most-favored memories are often created with Christmas in the background. Thinking about my own life and the people in it, I was overcome by just how blessed I truly am. As we sang the final verse in "Silent Night" tonight at the candlelight service at church, I started to tear-up. A lot has happened over the past 15 years. I mean, truly life-changing shit. My immediate family has been reduced from five to three. I've had to learn to walk twice in my life (and lemme tell ya, the distance from your ass to the ground is a lot greater when you're 18...). I've learned that you truly don't know how strong you are until you have no other option but to keep trudging ahead. I've been broken...I've been jobless...I owe the federal government at least $30,000 (we push education in this country, but then make it unaffordable...that's a rant for another day...).

But...at the end of the day, if you have love...even if just enough for yourself, that's all there is. I don't have much, but the people in my life are my riches.

And I am eternally grateful.