By Jasmin Acosta
December is the time of remembrance and taking the time to reflect on what the year has brought us along with what we are thankful for. The smell of gingerbread, candy canes, and hot chocolate while jolly Christmas songs are playing and seeing bright lights while hearing people laughing brings us joy since the atmosphere is cheerful around us.
When we are surrounded with positivity, it allows us to have the time needed to reflect on the ups and downs that life has brought us for the year, but it especially helps to bring out the aspects that we are thankful for.
Typically, throughout the year, we forget to reflect and see what we are thankful for due to there not being a relaxing period in our life or based on the fact that we simply forget. However, the holiday season brings the best out of life with the bright, colorful lights shining in our faces reminding us of the positive side to life. The lights reflect a time of celebration for the people in our lives that we love and appreciate.
Similarly, like with a Christmas tree, we are the lights that wrap around it where we shine vividly and bring light to the people around us as they do for us within our community. The tiny bulbs on string lights represent unity, and it is the small things that we do for others along with the things they do for us, that radiate positivity. Within a group, we function as string lights since we need each person to strengthen the bond that we have formed with one another. Otherwise, like string lights, we would not be able to shine if one person did not feel connected.
This is the time to unite with the people around us that we are thankful for, and to remember that we are all connected to each other. The holidays are the time to continue to strengthen our bond within the people in our community through the energy that we provide or in doing activities, such as building a gingerbread house, going to holiday events, eating a meal, opening presents, or simply spending time together.
Ultimately, a Christmas tree is representative of our community, and the string lights surrounding it symbolize us, as we are all intertwined with one another through the positivity that we give to each other.