Christmas Day open thread: It's about presence, not presents

Our own Rico came up with the title for this piece.

I spent last night at my brother's house for our annual Noche Buena gathering. No gifts were exchanged. We stopped doing that ten years ago. We realized that gifts were not why we gathered together every year. Gifts were becoming an encumbrance, a dour duty where we rushed around stressing about getting the "perfect" gift. We were all successful people. We didn't need anything that we couldn't get ourselves. And what we really wanted to do was to just be with each other, in each other's company. We wanted to be present for each other. 

So last night over lechón asado, platanos fritos, and arroz con frijoles negros, we just sat around the table, ate, joked, and took pleasure in each other's company. I met my niece's new partner. I made arrangements to have lunch with my oldest nephew. I marveled at what a beautiful and poised young woman my step-niece has become. I marveled at what a good and loving kid my youngest nephew is. That was all I needed. I didn't need anything else.

In Miracle on 34th Street, Kris Kringle bemoans the state of Christmas, that it's all about moving products rather than moving hearts. It took me a long time to realize that. If you want to give gifts, that's wonderful. If it brings you joy, give those gifts. But know that the gifts should have a deeper meaning. The gift in itself is just a thing, devoid of meaning. Gift-giving by rote is a dead letter. Christmas should be about love and fellowship. It should be a time where you pause, where you slow yourself down, and take stock of the good things you have in your life. Presents are ancillary. Presence should be the reason for the holiday. 

May this Christmas bring you all the good things on which one cannot put a price. Because in the end that's what matters.

May you have the merriest and most blessed of days.