Saying I’m ecstatic that it’s Christmas time is probably an understatement. I love everything about this time of year, the music especially. Last Christmas, we were in school until the twenty-first, and I was wrapped up in an eating disorder and a quite literally obsessive-compulsive need to have perfect grades. Needless to say, I didn’t have a whole lot of free time or energy to enjoy the Christmas season with. This year, I may still be wrestling with Miss Ana and some OCD, but I have strong intentions to not let that ruin the entire season for me.

Christmas this year is going to be different. I have a goal of being present. I don’t want to just be a warm body in a room, I want to be an entire being who’s part of the action. I want to enjoy our traditions. I want to listen to the music too loudly, letting it fill my heart and stir my soul. I want to be carefree enough to laugh and enjoy our favorite Christmas movies. I want to love our game of judging and rating the yards full of lights whenever we drive around to see them, instead of worrying about the calories in the hot chocolate I’m drinking.

A few years ago when I stumbled across this song of TobyMac’s, I fell in love. It may not be a traditional Christmas Carol, but it gets me into the Christmas Spirit with a light, joyous heart. Christmas This Year can have so many different endings tacked to it. This year, I’m saying Christmas will be different. Christmas this year will be happier.