So though I am currently jobless, I am not hungry, unhappy or distressed. I find myself eager about a new adventure and excited about making a fresh start, hopefully doing something interesting and meaningful. I wonder now, as I did every day before, “How can I make a difference in the world and make life better for others?” Maybe my forced reentry into the job market will give me more options to explore an answer to that question other than by torturing you, my few dear readers.

For the next few days though, I will be exploring how to approach my backlog of over 2000 podcasts (yes, I am an information junkie), a stack of books and magazines, redesigning some websites, and tackling a slightly disorganized garage. Otherwise, I expect to be back to a regular schedule of boring you with many inane and irrelevant facts.

Most especially, I hope that your life is full of gratitude and happiness. As you celebrate this holiday, I hope that you find many reasons to feel blessed for important things, and for the mundane. For the myriad things we use regularly and take for granted: safe disposable razors, boxed milk, libraries of books, the Internet, pens, paper, nail files, shelled nuts, refrigerators, ice cubes, Blistex, scarfs, gloves, and lotion. As you go through your day, consider what life was like for our ancestors only one hundred years ago, what luxuries we have that we don’t consider luxuries (shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, electric toothbrush, indoor heated plumbing), and how life is for many in our own country for whom items that should be a given, like fresh produce or a couple of meals a day, are a luxury.

For many people, Christmas is about the presents. When we reunite with our circle of friends or coworkers after the holidays we make conversation by asking, “What did you get for Christmas?” I love stuff as much as anyone, but I can’t help but wonder how much more fun the holidays or any celebration for that matter, might be if instead of spending a frantic month of shopping and stressful worrying about finding the right gift, we had a day to celebrate togetherness. Oprah had some great suggestions for this.

Perhaps a good way to conclude your holiday would be by writing two lists: one of all the things that happened only today that made your life more enjoyable, and a second list of everything you love about the people you spent your day with. I don’t know about you, but for me, the things that touch me most are not the gifts I receive, but the meaning behind the actions. It’s the love behind the gesture, that someone took the time to plan something with the intent to show their affection, that I mattered to someone, that is what means the most.

Happy Holidays and wishes that you feel all the love that is in your life.

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