With Christmas time brings one of my favorite things…giving gifts. It makes my heart happy to make other people feel loved. This is something that I enjoy doing year round. It’s always been a delight of mine to shower the people I love with random acts of kindness. Something as simple as a random text message or a perfectly worded card; it’s important to me that my tribe of people know how much I love them.

With my kind heart comes disappointment at times. I’m not asking for gifts in return. In fact, I really don’t want gifts in return. What I want is appreciation. I put a lot of time and thought into everything. I want what I say and the gifts I give to be perfect. It would be nice if the person on the receiving end would acknowledge my time and effort. Is that too much to ask?

I also worry about disappointing people. Yes, my mind is crazy! Does anyone else cringe with anticipation when someone is opening your gift? Do you wait for his or her reaction to see if they genuinely like the gift? Am I the only one?!! Gosh I wish I wasn’t so hung up on perfection.

In the end, the thought of making someone else happy really makes me happy. I wish the world was filled with more kindhearted people. We need less jealously, hatred, and violence and more (much more) love, kindness, and acceptance.

Take care of YOURSELF (I’m talking to you mommas)! Take some time out of each day to do something nice for yourself. The better you take care of yourself, the better you can take care of others. Learn that it’s ok to say ‘no’ to others in order to say ‘yes’ to yourself. Life it stressful, life is hard, life is frustrating. But life can also be hilarious, amazing, and inspiring if you take care of yourself and surround yourself with great people.

“Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” ~Kid President