This is my first year doing Secret Santa (ever). It was purely by accident when I stumbled across a message telling me not to forget to sign up. After reading what the exchange was all about, I was more than excited to take part!

I included a lot of details for my Secret Santa, hoping it would make it easier for them to choose a gift. I had no idea what it could be since my interests varied.

One day I got a text from Amazon saying my package (that I ordered for others) had arrived. I opened the door, and surprise!, I had TWO packages waiting for me! I was as giddy as a kid who was about to have chocolate cake, but I convinced myself to wait until Christmas to open the present.

Christmas Day arrives, I tear into my present, annnnnd it's more beautiful than I'd ever imagine! You know, a lot of people's goals nowadays (especially where I'm from) are to make a lot of money and own expensive fancy things. But me? All I want is to explore the world and experience the diverse cultures; that's what makes me happy.

I'm so thankful and appreciative of my Secret Santa for gifting me something I've always admired and desired - a painting of the world! Finally, I have something that represents my love for traveling, and this gift couldn't have been more perfect. My Secret Santa wrote "Adventure awaits" on my card, and they probably didn't know that those are (almost) the exact words I live by (for some context, my favorite movie is also Up). Thank you again for making my Christmas a little more special this year.

Also, I'd like to add a sincere and heartfelt THANK YOU to ALL of the Secret Santas and Rematchers out there. Thank you for devoting the time, energy, and heart that you put in to this gift exchange. None of it would be possible if it weren't for wonderful, generous, selfless people around the world like yourselves. You never know how much of an impact your gift or kind words may have on others. It's hard to express in words how grateful I am to now be part of a community who cares and thinks about others during a time in which many may feel neglected. Honestly, holidays have never really been special or meant much to me, but that's all changed thanks to Reddit's Secret Santa.

Happy holidays everyone :)