The great thing about being stuck in the hospital during the Christmas holiday is that you have a lot of time on your hands. And for hyperactive workaholic me, time is a most precious gift!

A dear friend once gifted me with a bucket list journal, and one of my entries went this way: “Write a note to the people you love, and let them know how you feel. Let them know how important you are in their lives, and how they have a made a difference in how you’re living.”

Sounds fantastic, right? Yeah, well, I never got around to doing it. I got as far as buying these really cool note pads with envelopes (my intention was to mail them) and writing one, yes, only one note to one person. After that, a bunch of work projects came in and I just forgot all about it.

But life has a way of reminding you of the important stuff. Those of you who read this little column would know that I lost a very special someone recently. I’m sure I had told her how very special she was to me. Unfortunately, I’m also quite sure that it was nowhere near intentional, and it made me sad.

So yesterday, before we found ourselves in the hospital, I just started writing. I looked at my Messenger list (because I honestly do not know where the post office is) and started sending notes to people starting from the top of my chat list.

What would have been a dreary staycation at the hospital turned out to be a singular Christmas experience.

I didn’t write extra long, supercalifragilisticexpialidocious letters. I just wrote down how I felt about that person, and attached a Christmas greeting.

It was great to express gratitude. It was wonderful to express awe.

Okay, I have to tell you that some of the messages were kind of touchy-feely, and maybe uncharacteristic of how I usually am. I mean, I had to write some of them disclaimers: “I am not dying, okay. I just wanted to send you a note.” But I loved writing these presents of appreciation.

It was liberating to finally be able to intentionally say what you liked/loved about that person.

It was also a kind of personal journey. I would be faced with a name, and I would remember all these things we did or shared together. The memories made me realize all the more how absolutely blessed my life is.

And the names, there were so many. Honestly, I was quite surprised. I am not really that sociable a person. I am too selfish with my time, but still, there are all these individuals who have made my life so rich, so beautiful, so exciting, so wonderful!

What would have been a dreary staycation at the hospital turned out to be a singular Christmas experience. I just wanted to send out my love, but I received so much more in return! It was amazing.

Would you believe that I am still not yet finished with my list? Still so much love to send off to my universe! But now I think I would have to do some serious catching up with all the feasting and drinking! Mwahahaha! I do hope your Christmas was just as meaningful and just as merry!