the meaning.

of the season.

i love volunteering at christmas time. i do it every year. it's not forced. or because i should. i do it because i love it. i love the way i feel afterwards. the way it puts things in perspective. the sheer feeling of doing good.

today the other yulie and i worked at our county's christmas shop. i've worked there for over 18 years now. it still amazes me. the work involved. the organization, the number of people it serves. the joy it fills people with.

every year. i hear the same stories. the gratitude. the thankfulness. the wonder. the appreciation on both the clients and volunteers' parts. every year. people are humbled by one another.

i love it. we had a good time. we met some interesting people. heard some sad stories. some good stories. laughed and chatted. felt proud. and a bit embarrassed by what we have. what we don't really need. felt the need to simplify.

i don't mean to be preachy. i just always feel this way after i volunteer. it's easy to get caught up in my life. to forget. to not be aware. to take things for granted. but it was put into perspective last night. i just need to hang on to that.