Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. Life can change, you're not stuck in vain. Don't say we didn't warn you.

I was sitting around ruminating the meaning of Christmas today. A lot of people do this time of year; perhaps it's because of the imagery of the nativity, perhaps it's because of the usual media hype surrounding the event, perhaps it's just because there's that special feeling in the air.

I can't say I've given enormous amounts of thought to the subject this year, or any year past, to what exactly the meaning of Christmas is. It's just a thought that I mull a bit and find I don't have a satisfactory answer to. Every Christmas special you see on TV has a theory that generally involves a spirit of magic and a sense of togetherness with peace on Earth, and I think those are ever so close to being the reason that Christmas is so special. So close, in fact, that I believe they are right. But despite the answers available, I think about the meaning nonetheless and try to come up with my own special thoughts about the season.

We all have to have our own special thoughts about the season, or else it's not truly special anymore. Christmas is truly magical, but only if you believe it to be. Belief can be difficult to come by; it's not something that can be logically rationalized or taught in school. It has to come from yourself, your life, your memories, your loved ones.

Christmas is magical. But magic needs a caster, and we all have to play the magician.

You don't have to be Christian to believe in the magic behind Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, obviously a Christian belief, but the holiday today has such a wider reach. The religious would call it a manifestation of God's will and the residual effect of Jesus's ultimate sacrifce, and their meaning holds special truth to themselves and those with similar beliefs. Christmas can have meaning even separated from its religious background, and in such lies the beauty in the day.

If Christmas makes you feel good, stop and ask yourself why. Is it the tradition? The spirit of love? The generosity?

If Christmas doesn't make you feel good, stop and ask yourself why not. The answers may be painful, they may be irreverent, they may just be that it's not a celebrated event in your part of the world. It's all good. But you can still choose to make it special, even if it goes against your religious beliefs. Not necessarily by celebrating religiously, but by turning it into a day in which you look at the world differently. A day in which the world doesn't conspire against you but gives us an opportunity for life.

I have a pair of anecdotes, irrelevant by themselves but significant because of how I perceive them. Yesterday, while jogging, a man across the street waved at me and wished me merry Christmas. Maybe on another day, he would have said good morning, or maybe he would have continued walking his dogs without giving me a second thought. But Christmas season is here, and his frame of mind was different. He thought to wish me a merry Christmas. The words themselves can have any meaning the interpreter wants; but undeniably his mindset was different. And such is the power of Christmas.

Anecdote number two: on Friday night, a friend took me, along with his sister and uncle, to a Dallas Mavericks basketball game. I had had a bad day, and I allowed that to manifest itself on the car ride to the basketball game. My friend and his family were more understanding than I ever could have imagined; it helped me at a time I needed it. The anecdote is unrelated, directly, to Christmas, but when I thought about that car ride today, it made me think of the Christmas spirit. The family was as understanding as my own wonderful family. I was an outsider of the clan but another person nonetheless, and they treated me with compassion.

When a friend isn't himself or herself for whatever reason, I hope to think of that car ride. I want it to remind me that none of us are perfect, and that we all need support. This could have happened in May, or on my birthday, or any other day of the year, but it still would have embodied the Christmas spirit. The Christmas spirit isn't limited to a time of year; it's only limited by mindset. Feel that something special in the air? Embrace it, and hold onto it. Wear it proudly on your sleeve.

The phrase "Peace on Earth" isn't just a catchphrase; it speaks to the heart of the Christmas season. When people change their mindsets, the world becomes a better place.

Christmas is a catalyst that can propel any boulder up any hill. Take a look around, put it in your pocket, and carry it into the New Year. Pull it out when you feel you need that extra push to get the boulder over a particularly steep part of the hill. Or, pull it out when your friend or family member needs an extra push. Don't worry, they'll give it back.

As for me, AK, I'm still a retired letters columnist. Consider this a quick guest spot. Several people have asked why I retired, and so unceremoniously; it's because I've decided to focus my energies in other directions, ones not necessarily video game related.

I'm not sure if my little Christmas essay has any particular meaning to anyone, or if you just found it annoying or offensive. It was long winded and quite possibly quite pointless. If you found it annoying, I apologize. You can complain to me at andrewk@thegia.com still. But don't send your letters for posting there; pass those to along to Chris. He needs some letters for Tuesday. Take care everyone.

All that's left that needs to be said is... Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,
-Andrew Kaufmann