Someone once told me that ambition comes at a cost.  I never really believed them until this very moment.  9:58 on Christmas Eve.  It’s kind of funny actually.  I’m working at a hotel with over 30 gorgeously decorated Christmas trees in the lobby, but I just want to see the tiny fiber-optic one that my mom puts up because she’s too lazy to put up the artificial one we have in the closet.  I work with a team of amazing associates that never fail to impress me everyday, but I just want to see my goofball friends.  I work at a fine dining restaurant and serve the most incredible dishes to families celebrating Christmas Eve, but I just want a home-cooked meal with my own family.  I’m living in a spacious room in a luxury hotel, but it just feels empty.

But I know that in this industry, this is something that I’ll have to get used to.  I am having a truly amazing experience at The Mauna Lani and am learning so much, so I just need to stay focused.  Tomorrow we’re having a dessert potluck in the Housekeeping department and I’m looking forward to eating bibingka, lumpia, and all the other crazy dishes that the ladies are cooking up!  I’ll probably have to eat weird delicacies and groan like I love it, but it’ll be worth it to see the smiles on the faces.  They’re alll so great!

Anyway, I hope all of you are having an amazing Christmas with your families & friends!  Don’t take it for granted because as we get older, it’ll get increasingly harder for everyone to get together!