Today

Today cannot go by without mentioning my family and how much I appreciate every single one of them — from my stepmother to my grandparents. I am grateful to have a family and for all they bring to the table, both collectively and as individuals.

I cannot discuss my family without bringing up a centerpiece of it all: my Aunt. This particular individual is one of the most detailed oriented, passionate, considerate, and powerful human beings on this planet. Her grace speaks for itself as she has raised two generations not like her own but as her own. Her steady hand with patience, understanding, and compassion has been a centerpiece in my well-being in general terms but, equally, very specifically.

This particular Aunt of mine has significantly impacted my view of the holidays and what “home” means. Also (in unison with my parents), she has provided not just an extra layer of safety but an environmental tranquility that protected my childhood, giving me the privilege of experiencing a childhood at its optimal level. This experience has directly contributed to my intrinsic understanding of what happiness looks and, most importantly, feels like. Thus enabling me to fine-tune as well as cultivate my happiness as an adult by constantly refining my tire management system to run my optimal race in this human race.