Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE — Think about the best gift you ever received. Think about the joy and elation your felt. Think about how it was one of the happiest moments of your life.

We've all had that moment, and I pray we all get to enjoy those moments again.

For me, one of those moments was for my seventh birthday when I got a BMX bike. I walked downstairs hoping for pancakes, and there in the living room was a red BMX. It was my first bike that had front brakes, and it even had spoke guards that just added to the level of pure awesomeness. It was the coolest bike I'd ever owned and still is.

I was so excited about this bike that I didn't even care about my pancakes anymore — and that's saying a lot for a 7-year-old who was pushing 100 pounds. As my mom put it I was "big-boned." Regardless of my girth, I was so excited about this bike. Pure joy was all over my face.

That joy was fleeting, however, because about a week later my older brother rode it to a park to play football with some friends and forgot it. When we went back to get it, it was gone. Some other kid was enjoying its epicness. And no, I'm not mad. I don't hold a grudge. I have just been planning my revenge for the past 30 years and no idea has been worthy yet.

While my joy was matched by my disappointment, I'm afraid my excitement to receive that bike was nothing in comparison to what the adorable little girl in this video expressed.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Katelyn (@katescookieskc)

This is Emrie, and her aunt posted this video on Instagram. Emrie is blind and apparently a huge Harry Potter fan. In the video, she opens up her present with the zeal only a child can and then takes a large volume from inside the box and lays it across her lap. She recognizes that it's braille and quickly starts reading, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

As she reads those last lines, you see it register on her face: she can now read the Harry Potter book on her own. Her excitement is palpable, and it only goes up from there when she finds out she has been gifted the entire series.

We're only a few days into 2021, but I've already found my favorite video of the year.

Emrie, I'm so happy for you and your amazing new present. It's obvious you have people who love you very much. But I also need to tell you something: Thank you. Your excitement about these books reminds me — and I think many others — that there is a lot in life to be excited and grateful for. Your attitude, enthusiasm and smile make this world a happier place. Merry Christmas, Emrie, and enjoy those books.

And to everyone else, let's be a little more like Emrie and find those things in life to get excited about.

And to KC, watch your back. I haven't forgotten about that BMX.