Something happens in your brain when you see a Christmas tree

I have had a pink Christmas tree for years now (okay, this is only year two) and it's more fun than I can tell you on paper. I genuinely, intensely, without jokes feel happy when I see her.

Her name is Mien. Yes, she has a name, and she comes back every year from now on. She is just like me: delightfully chaotic and disordered, but cozy and full of glitter. She is exactly what the rest of the house might be missing: you always think too much about furniture and everything has to be sensible and good and subtle. No bright colors. Don't go too crazy. Beige, gray, wood. Classy and a bit refined, that idea. But with the Christmas tree, I can go all out according to the man of the house. He doesn't care at all, and as long as I beam from ear to ear, he thinks it's fine.

So she is bright pink and consists of glitter garlands and a glitter top. Her ornaments? There's a cupcake, a ballerina, a champagne bottle, and a rocking horse hanging on her. I'm still looking for an ice cream ball. There are feathers, little birds, and okay, also some flowers. And bows. And a tacky pearl string. Everything pink, did I mention that already? And Mien is very, very pretty. And very, very popular among the Christmas tree men in the Pijp. Okay, now I'm rambling.

Why is it that we become so happy when we have that tree all decorated and standing? It's proven. Psychologists have long studied it and what turns out? People who take their Christmas decorations out of the shed and show them are happier. This is due to the memories associated with those lights and ornaments and glitter and reindeer. You automatically think back to your youth, to that nice time with people who may no longer be around. To wonderful moments with family and loved ones. Your dearest ones. That comes up unconsciously when you sit staring at that tree in the corner of the room. Yes, you see, I knew it, Mien. You are special.

And what I find the most delightful? That my boys are growing up with Mien. They will get to choose their own Christmas ornament later. And that they will recreate a Mien in their own house when they are in their own rooms because they miss my Mien so much. Two boys with a pink Christmas tree in a student house, that would be something. But I am rambling a bit, that's true, and I'm also getting ahead of myself. Oh well, it's almost Christmas, right? It’s allowed.