Christmas Is Not a Phase for Me
Christmas Is Not a Phase for Me
Christmas is my favorite holiday. No contest. It always has been.
I do not casually like Christmas. I commit to it. I plan for it. I look forward to it long before December shows up on the calendar. Christmas music starts early. Decorations come out without hesitation. The season is not background noise in my life. It is the main event.
There is something about Christmas that gives me permission to slow down and care louder. It creates space for joy without apology. It reminds me that ordinary life can feel special if you decide it is worth the effort.
I Never Believed in Santa and the Magic Never Left
When I was little, my family and I were at the mall at Easton around Christmas time. Santa was sitting in front of the fountains doing the full Santa thing. Big chair. Big beard. Big moment.
I looked at him. Really looked at him.
Then I yelled to my mom, as loud as a kid possibly can in a crowded mall,
“LOOK!!! IT’S NOAH!!!!!”
Not Santa. Noah. A guy I knew.
That moment pretty much sums up my relationship with Christmas. I never bought into the illusion, but nothing broke. Nothing was ruined. If anything, it clarified things early.
The magic was never the man in the chair.
The magic was everything happening around him.
I Never Outsourced the Magic
I think a lot of people feel like Christmas magic dies when you get older. Or more specifically, when you realize Santa is not real.
I never had that moment. There was no reveal. No disappointment. No grieving childhood magic. Because of that, Christmas never became something I outgrew. It became something I owned.
Christmas has always been about effort to me. About intention. About choosing to show up for people in ways that are louder and more obvious than the rest of the year.
Our Apartment Is Fully Committed
Sadie and I’s apartment is aggressively Christmas and I mean that as a compliment.
We are the only ones in our apartment complex with decorations up and we did not ease into it. The inside looks like Christmas threw up everywhere and honestly that was the goal. Trees. Lights. Ornaments. Garland. Candles. Music playing constantly.
Sadie was a little surprised by how many decorations I already had. I think she assumed we would slowly build a collection over time. I showed up with bins. I showed up with a system. I showed up ready.
I love walking into our place at night, flipping on the lights, and instantly feeling the season. It changes how the day ends. It changes how you breathe.
We Do Christmas On Purpose
We do not just decorate and call it good.
We go to Christmas events. We went to The Nutcracker. We went to the Christmas Pops. We went to a tree lighting. We stood outside and watched a drone show light up the sky. We intentionally filled our calendar with things that felt festive and fun and unnecessary in the best way.
We watch Christmas movies even when we have already seen them a hundred times. We drive around looking at lights. We sit on the couch with the tree on, music playing softly, and do absolutely nothing and somehow that becomes the best night of the week.
Christmas does not happen by accident. You have to choose it.
Our Kitchen Is Part of the Tradition
We make Christmas cookies. The messy kind.
Flour everywhere. Multiple batches. Some turn out great. Some are questionable. None of that matters. What matters is the kitchen being full and the music being loud enough that nobody takes it too seriously.
We make gingerbread houses and pretend it is about construction when really it is about who can eat the most candy before the house collapses. There is frosting everywhere. There is always at least one house that never had a chance. It is perfect.
Our Home Is Meant to Be Full
We host parties. We have friends over. We make space.
I love having people in our apartment during Christmas. Music playing. Lights on. Someone always standing by the tree just looking at it. Conversations in the kitchen that last way longer than planned. People sitting on the floor because there are not enough chairs and nobody cares.
Christmas feels right when the house is full. Not fancy. Not quiet. Just full.
Full of people.
Full of laughter.
Full of noise.
Giving Is My Favorite Part Now
One of my favorite parts of Christmas as an adult is giving.
I make sure my teams have gifts. My Leaders of Today team. My co op team. I love thinking about what would make someone feel appreciated, even if it is small. It matters to me that people know they are seen.
When you get older, you get more resources. And honestly, Christmas gets more fun.
You get to give more.
You get to do more.
You get to decorate more.
You are not limited anymore. You are empowered.
Christmas Gets Better With Age
I genuinely believe Christmas gets better as you get older if you let it.
You have more control over your time. More control over your space. More ability to create moments instead of waiting for them. The magic does not disappear. It evolves. It deepens. It becomes something you build instead of something you receive.
And honestly, that is better.
Christmas Is Our Thing
Christmas is our thing. Sadie and I lean into it fully. And we might even have a surprise up our sleeve for next year.
You will have to wait and see.
The Magic Is Still Here
I want people to know that Christmas magic is not reserved for kids. It is not something you lose with age. It is something you stop prioritizing.
Put up the lights.
Say yes to the events.
Make the cookies.
Build the gingerbread house.
Host the party.
Invite people over even if the space is small and the plan is loose.
Christmas is not less magical when you grow up.
You finally have the tools to make it incredible.
And if you need help decorating, baking, or convincing yourself to go all in, you already know who to call. 🎄