I have always liked being around people. Don’t get me wrong, being alone is one of the most relaxing things on the face of the earth and getting to do your own things feels like nothing else. However, being with people, especially those close to me really fills my heart.
I think it’s no secret that everyone becomes more appreciative of those they have around them during the holiday season. This is the case even when thinking about all those who will be travelling back home for the holidays to see their family and friends, sleep in their own beds and be able to smell all that is going on in the kitchen as opposed to their own instant ramen noodles boiling on the stove. Not only that, even in the Netherlands people are already celebrating thanksgiving, early Christmas dinners and meeting up with the people they care about.
That’s why I love December so much. It’s not just the holidays and the free time, but also the fact that we are moving closer to the end of the year. Everyone is writing the final pages of this year’s chapter of their lives and getting ready for the next one, and usually, for me that means, trying to have as much fun as possible with those around me. So this is therefore the time of year I get to see my friends and family the most!
My friends and I have things we have been doing for years now, like cooking together or having sleepovers around Christmas and New Years but have also been trying new things like secret Santa. If we get lucky with snowfall, we go sledging or have snow fights outside, and if we aren’t so lucky, we still make the most of this time and go skating on fake ice indoors! 😉
To be honest, I’m the biggest fan of summer but there is just something about winter; Christmas markets, hot chocolate, walks in the park when there is snow everywhere, decorating the house and drinking wine with songs in the background as everyone is getting cosy, settling in to watch movies all night long.
This is not only the season where you see your loved ones the most, it should be the one where you tell them you love them the most! Obviously, you should do this all year round, but thinking back at all the fun times they gave me this year and how lucky I am to have them, it would make me feel guilty if I did not let them know how much I love that they let me annoy them.
So if you have had good company this year or even these last few weeks, or for those going back home, be sure to let your company know how awesome they are!
Writer: Gauri Ghisai
Editor: Nimrat Kaur
Visuals: Isabella Restrepo Vargas