i can't promise that i will heal you, but if you want to, i will try.

I try to love this time of year. Everything takes on a magical phosphorescence. Everything is not the same, everything's been tainted with Christmas. It's like this infection that turns everything into something better.

Shopping is not just shopping, it's Christmas shopping. Your heart flutters when you find the perfect gift for someone and you imagine their face when they rip off all of the wrapping paper and your gift is laid bare. Something that - hopefully - you agonized over getting. It will be a present that just shows how much you care about that person and how much you think of them.

Chocolate is not just chocolate, it's Christmas chocolate. Somehow, you forget about all the calories and you consume piece after piece. It's joyful and for some reason, it tastes better at this time of year than any other. The boxes they come in are extravagant with the most vibrant colours - they're all dressed up waiting to be ate. In any other month, you wouldn't even care about what things are wrapped up in, but in this month, you take a moment to evaluate the colours, the glitter and the shininess of the covering.

The days are not days, they are a consecutive lead up to Christmas day. People constantly remind you that it's so many days to Christmas and you must take a second to squeal and smile at the person, like this is the most exciting news you have heard - ever. You might even celebrate each morning with a small piece of chocolate from your advent calendar.

And the best part - possibly - songs are not just songs, they are Christmas songs. They're played in near enough every shop. Their lyrics get stuck in your head along with the tune, and then you hum them on repeat throughout the day. You can't concentrate from shop to shop because all you can think about is how annoying Wizzard sound and how stupid the concept of Christmas being every day would be! But then, when you walk into a shop that isn't playing a Christmas album on repeat, you don't stop and revel in the calm, you curse at how Scrooge like that is.

My favourite part of Christmas is the lights.
Everything is lit up so beautifully. Houses aren't plain boring red brick, they glint and shimmer. It seems as if everyone has decided to dust their houses with sparkling glitter.

And then, everything becomes even more perfect as it snows.

Except, as you become older, you can't help but realise that Christmas day is just any other day - well, if you're not religious that is - the allure begins to fade. And the only reason you get excited is because everybody else is.

Love,
Scrooge.