Ever noticed that you never see an ugly Christmas tree?

Doesn’t happen, does it? Everywhere you look, whether the decorations are handmade or storebought, old or new, all one color scheme or a tremendous variety, it all looks right when it’s on a Christmas tree.

Now, there are particular ornaments that come to mind (usually my handmade efforts as a child qualify here) that could be classified as “not-so-nice-looking”. But even when you intersperse these among everything else, it all looks right.

I’m 23 years and change old now, and one of my favorite things to do still is look at a Christmas tree all lit up with all of the lamps and overhead lights turned off. There’s something perfect about it, as if in that one moment everything is just right with the world.

I’ve sometimes wondered why that is. I guess that you could just call it part of the mystery of the season. But I prefer to think that we’re more in the spirit to see the beauty in everything.

Translating that to the everyday, we need to see the “Christmas tree” in everything in our lives. It’s hard to do on a day-by-day basis. I know. But you’ll notice that there are people who can do it. You’ll also note that they tend to be very happy and content with their lives. There’s something to it.

I’m trying to live my life being content with it. I don’t always succeed, but when I do, I find that I can find the “Christmas tree” in things.

Once again, today is my birthday.

23 years. You know, it doesn’t seem like a very long time at all. And in another sense, it seems pretty long. I mean, I’ve only been working on this site now for somewhere around four years. I’ve been in college almost five and a half.

I’m usually pretty introspective on my birthday. I’m not sure why. It just always works that way. I guess part of me always is asking “what did I really do this year? What made this past year worthwhile? What did I learn?”

I mean, my sister and brother-in-law started a new life together, for the most part, anyway. Most of my college friends that I had when I was an undergrad have moved on and done the same. Moving on to new parts of your life seems to be the right thing to do as you grow older.

I haven’t done that quite yet.

So as I type this, I’m thinking to myself, “What have I done?” But actually, this year, I think that I’ve accomplished a lot. I made it through the first year of the MBA program, which anyone will tell you is a feat in itself. I had a “real job” for the first time in my life this summer, and actually did all right at it. I didn’t go under. I’ve lost 17 pounds and gotten in the best shape I’ve been in since high school.

I’ve also learned to be more open and outgoing around new people. (Thank you, MBA program.) I’ve learned to have some fun at my own expense and not take myself so seriously.

Maybe I’ve done more growing than I originally thought.

You don’t usually grow very much physically after you’re 21, so I doubt I’ll ever be any taller. (I haven’t grown much myself since I was about 15.) But I’ve got a lifetime to grow in other ways. Looking back, I think this year was a good growing experience, much like the other 22.

Many thanks to my family (love you mom and dad) and friends, without whom I wouldn’t be who I am today. Many of you will never read this, more than likely. To those who do, thank you so much again.