Welcome to the month of December! For adults and children worldwide this is probably the most anticipated month of the year. In fact, preparations for this month seem to begin earlier and earlier every year. Just recently, I made a quick stop at my local grocery store to pick up a few items and as soon as I entered the store my ears were bombarded by the sounds of loudly playing holiday music. Now, I'll be honest. I love listening to Christmas music as much as the next person, but it struck me that the store was already celebrating this holiday and had completely skipped over Thanksgiving! However, when I mentioned this fact in passing to the young girl scanning my items, the response I received from her was more unsettling. With a smile and a wave of her hand, she said "Oh yeah, we've been playing this music for weeks now. Nobody cares about Thanksgiving anymore. It's all about the presents." I wish I could say that I responded to her with a great speech about how Thanksgiving was a wonderful holiday and that Christmas was about so much more than gifts. But, I was so shocked by her blasé attitude that I simply thanked her, grabbed my groceries and left. On the way back to my house, I kept replaying her statement and attitude over and over again in my mind. It wasn't the fact that she didn't appreciate the holidays as I felt she should; but the fact that she, like so many others, seemed to get caught up in the marketing hype and not the meaning behind the holidays. For me personally, this time of year has become extremely important to me. Not for the gifts, the food or the parties but because of my family. I'm sure some of you can relate to how your whole outlook on life changes when one of your parents become ill. It's as if everything around you – what you use to consider reality – shifts and you are left feeling lost, alone and so very unsure about … just everything! For the last couple of years I've been going through that very thing, as my strong and resilient dad slowly loses a piece of himself with each passing day. For me this time of year is about making memories and enjoying the precious time I've been given! I don't want to speed ahead and miss any holidays – I want to savor each and every one. I don't want to take a single moment for granted, because the reality of missing one of those precious moments with my dad breaks my heart. So, this holiday season I implore you to not get caught up in the holiday hype. Don't take for granted the time you've been given, because each day is a blessing! My holiday wish for each and every one of our readers is the joy of family, the gift of friends, and the best of everything! Best regards, Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.