The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is just a few short weeks away. My heart is filled with so much joy now that all the Christmas decorations are starting to pop up. Something about this time of the year just seems "right."

But, this time of the year can also be stressful for some - so many presents to buy, so many parties to get to... the list goes on and on. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season that we can forget the true meaning of the season - joy, love, hope, peace, and (most importantly) anticipation.

For those of you familiar with the Catholic practice of Advent, then you know exactly what those last five words mean. Joy, hope, peace, and love are the words that are found around the Advent wreath, and anticipation refers to how we are patiently waiting for Jesus' birth and second coming.

Those five words explain the true meaning of the season. Those five words are the reason for joy and happiness: joy, hope, peace, love, and anticipation.

Are your eyes set on the true meaning of the season? Is your heart turned towards the happiness and joy that Christmas is meant to bring? It's time to slow down, breathe, and look around at all the decorations with joy. Christmas isn't about who can get the most gifts - it's about who can give the most of themselves through joy, hope, love, peace, and anticipation.

Over the next few weeks of Advent, I'm going to be breaking down each of these five words in more detail, explaining the meaning behind each one and how it can be applied to your life and health this holiday season. Stay tuned!

xoxo Olivia