Just like that, another year is almost over, and the festive season is upon us. I have always loved Christmas and the opportunity to take some time to reflect, connect, and appreciate what we have in life. Leading up to Christmas, around mid-November, the energy starts to lift. Everyone begins to close in on the end-of-year celebrations and unwind from another trip around the sun.

One person, however, has been hard at work preparing for his annual shift, and tonight it will begin. Santa is wonderful, and through Santa and Christmas, a collection of cultures, ideas, concepts, and communities are connected for this period of time.

There are various cultures around the world that don't celebrate Christmas, and although it is fundamentally based around Christianity and the birth of Jesus, I think these days Christmas has spread far and wide. A more broad understanding of family, friends, and the celebration has formed throughout the world.

This big jolly old man and his pack of reindeer spread hope, dreams, love, and a huge array of deep emotional connections throughout the planet, a unified experience through a single entity. And through his creation and deeply profound role in spreading joy far and wide, there is a universal connection and happiness that is imprinted on a huge portion of humanity and has been doing so for many years.

Whether you celebrate it or not, the fundamental basis of connection, loving, and giving is a key contributing factor in our search for happiness. A moment to reflect through any significant date in time, in any culture, community, or sect, is a powerful tool in connecting us all, creating a moment of deep reflection, a moment to appreciate those closest to us, and an opportunity to give. Christmas and Santa can connect us all; they are concepts that have transcended time and are intrinsic in their value of bringing the masses together.

May the magic of Christmas and Santa bring joy and happiness to every corner of the world.

Thanks,

Dean