During the month of December, the entertainment and youth staff put on a holiday show for the guests onboard. A lot of work is put into it, but it’s so special, and the guests really enjoy it. The kids get to be part of the show with dances, singing songs and ornament decorating. They get to meet the Grinch and Santa. At one point in the show, the Captain comes out, and he says something about how we have over 50 nationalities onboard and that all of us are spending this time away from our families in order to help them celebrate the holidays with theirs. It’s something that a lot of people don’t think about. They’re thinking about creating memories with their own families and forgetting about the sacrifices that many people are making in being away from their own.
I love Christmas because of the happiness that surrounds the holiday. I enjoy buying gifts for friends and seeing their reactions to the things I handpicked or handmade for them. It’s such a special time of year. I like everything that comes along with this time of year – Christmas songs, decorations, exchanging gifts. It’s always been my favorite, and celebrating it on a cruise ship hasn’t made it any less special for me even though I won’t be celebrating it with my family.
I think last Christmas season was the start of the unexpected whirlwind of happiness I experienced this year. I started saying no to the things and people that made me anxious, stressed me out and brought a darkness into my life, and I started saying yes to everything and everyone that built me up and reminded me of how lucky I am.
There are so many blessings for me to count this year, and a blog post simply wouldn’t be enough to embody everything that I’d like to share. Between my family who has always supported my dreams and thirst to travel, my friends who never cease to amaze me with their caring spirit, my job – both my former one at the hotel and my current one and the people that I’ve met at both, the unexpected opportunities and recognition that I’ve received, the feeling of finally, truly being happy with my life and, of course, Endless Bliss, I can’t imagine a person feeling as blessed as I do.
I’m grateful for so many things this Christmas, and being able to celebrate it from a cruise ship (even though it sucks to be away from family and friends) is a reminder of how lucky I am because I’m on the path to following my dreams of seeing the world. I’m getting to do things that most people only dream about. I truly am blessed this Christmas season, and my hope is that you feel the same about your own life.
Merry Christmas!
