Shining Through My Vain

I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m a hopeless romantic - or at least, I try to be. My love for Christmas is unwavering, and I often find myself lost in the enchantment of the season. It’s when I’m surrounded by twinkling lights and the soft hum of carols that I feel most at home. But, like all things, my perception of love and relationships can get a little… mixed up. My glowing nose doesn’t lie - I get just as starry-eyed and giddy when I think about meeting someone new as I do when I’m watching Christmas movies. It’s like my heart’s radiating with excitement, and all I can do is laugh at the mess I’ve made of things.

The problem with being a hopeless romantic is that I’ve got a tendency to put others before myself. I’ll give and give, until I’m left with nothing but a faint glow of self-worth. But, in all honesty, that’s what I want from others - the same kind of selflessness, the same giving spirit. I guess what I’m trying to say is that my love is a bit of an ideal, one that I hold myself up to, and sometimes, it feels like I’m the only one who’s not living up to it. But, deep down, I know that it’s okay to be a little imperfect, to let my guard down and allow myself to be a mess.

When I’m on the road, traveling to new places and meeting new people, I like to think that I’m not just spreading Christmas cheer, but also my own, very unique brand of hope. It’s the kind that comes from being a little bit broken, a little bit vulnerable, and a whole lot of lovely. And, as I walk through the snow, my nose glowing bright, I know that I’m exactly where I’m meant to be - in all my imperfect, romantic, shining glory.