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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at KCL chapter.

It is finally that time of year again! Decemberā€¦a time of sparkles, cinnamon, bright lights, dark nights and jovial carols. As a child Christmas was always something magical, my brothers and I would leave sparkles on the grass outside to guide Santa Claus to our house. We would leave out a mince pie, maybe a carrot if we had one, and of course a glass of whiskey – quickly consumed by my dad once we were all in bed no doubt. Christmas was as much about the anticipation and the ā€˜magicā€™ as it was about the day itself. However, Iā€™m no longer a 6 year old; Iā€™m 19, and it would be ignorant of me to not address that this time of year – for a heartbreaking amount of people – has never been, and never will be, filled with this magic and excitement. The joy of Christmas, in many ways, has been consumed by materialism and the social, economic and climate struggles of the world.Ā 

However, this article is not going to attempt to address these issues specifically. Instead, I want to share some warmth and positivity in the best way I canā€¦ I asked my friends and family, all of different ages and genders, what they are grateful for and wish for this Christmas.Ā 

These are the questions that I posed:Ā 

  1. What is one non-material thing you are grateful for over winter/Christmas?Ā 
  2. Can you give a specific example of this thing?
  3. What non-material thing do you wish for this Christmas?Ā 

Perhaps unsurprisingly the majority of answers for question 1 was being grateful for family. The majority of people said that what theyā€™re most grateful for is time spent with their family, the health of their family, and time spent relaxing all together. When asked to name a specific example of this I had answers such as family members having a safe recovery from surgery, eating a Christmas dinner, enjoying entertaining conversations, cuddles with the ā€˜poochā€™, and family activities such as swimming or long walks. The fact that so many people responded in a similar way to this question speaks for the universal andĀ incomparable solace and comfort that being around loved family members can bring.Ā 

There were some other particularly touching and globally conscious answers to the first question I posed. One responder answered that they are grateful to be able to celebrate Christmas in a country that is not in a state of conflict, allowing them to feel truly at peace. Another person noted that they are grateful for their education, and that studying in a city like London is an experience they are profoundly appreciative of. With the current state of conflict that so many parts of the world are in, itā€™s hard not to feel guilty that we are safe whilst so many others are suffering. Gratitude and appreciation for our own safety, and the safety of our family and friends, is tinged with particular poignancy this year.

Whilst itā€™s important to not be ignorant of the state of the world, we need to be grateful for what we do have and treasure it as much as possible. For me, when I go home for the holidays I am taken aback by how fresh the air is when I step off the train in comparison to the air in London. I often feel saddened by the state of the climate, and whilst I do what I can to help protect our planet, it can feel futile. But this Christmas, as an active effort of gratefulness I hope to change my mentality by appreciating every moment of being outdoors in nature as a treasure and something fleeting that must be captured.Ā 

When asked to name a non-material Christmas wish that people hope for this year, there was also a myriad of responses. Multiple people expressed a wish for time; time spent with family, time to unwind, time to see old friends and time for themselves. Other people expressed wishes for a better climate, to feel joy, to make good memories and even for Rihanna to release a new album. Whilst Christmas may be full of materialism, there are some more tangible things for which we can be particularly grateful. For example, listening to music. Music inherently brings people together, singing, dancing and conversing on favourite bands and songs. Music evokes emotions and nostalgia that can make Christmas and holiday periods so special and personal.Ā 

Over the past few weeks I have been lucky enough to spend quite a bit of time with my family whilst still at uni. One night I came home from seeing them, a little bit tipsy I hasten to add, and I sat down at my desk and wrote the following on a notes page on my phone ā€œBL**DY MAKE THE MOST OF THE PEOPLE YOU LOVEā€. This rather speaks for itself, and in the days that followed this I have been thinking a lot about how I really want to spend my winter holiday. I am going to actively spend time thinking about what I am grateful for, noticing moments that bring joy or nostalgia and making an effort to spend time with people I love, soaking up all their loveliness.Ā 

The responses wishing for ā€˜timeā€™ this year, in all its different forms, has increased my thoughts on my outlook on this time of year.Ā With the risk of sounding sanctimonious and insufferably sentimental, time is something that we simply cannot give as a gift. It is something that must be taken with both hands at every given opportunity. For me, I often take advantage of time, letting things slide into the future because I think I have all the time in the world. But as the ancient proverb says ā€œtime waits for no manā€ so what is holding me back from living as presently possible? Admittedly I provide no answers for this question, merely pose it for consideration.Ā 

As you go about your day, I hope that you take a moment to consider what it is that really makes Christmas and winter holidays special for you, as an emotional human being, rather than getting swept up in materialism, letting this unique time of year slip away before you have time to appreciate it.Ā 

Chrissie is a writer for the Life section of the Kings College London (KCL) chapter. She will be writing about a variety of topics that will be relatable to everyday University life. Chrissie is in the second year of her Bachelors degree studying English Literature with Film Studies. Chrissie has a long history of speech writing and performance, as well as, more recently, a great interest in screenplay writing. She has written, produced and directed her first short film and there will be many more to come. After graduating in 2026 Chrissie hopes to pursue a career in the film industry as a writer/director of feature films. Chrissie has worked over the past few years with tutoring English students at GCSE and A-level - most notably students with dyslexia and learning difficulties and has hence gained an appreciation for the different ways in which young people learn and retain interest and knowledge. Chrissie loves to paint and play music in her free time as well as read and escape into the world of film. She is also adores cold/wild water swimming and will jump at any opportunity to take a cold plunge. She loves animals and has a growing interest in animal welfare in the meat trade and sustainability in day to day life. The perfect night in for Chrissie would be to cook with friends and enjoy wine and card games and good conversations.