Yes, yes it does count! Merry Christmas to you as well! Glad to hear you're doing well these days. Since you're still young, I'll offer three pieces of advice. Think of them as a belated Christmas gift, take them or leave them, but do listen:

• The first is a cliché, but I learned it the hard way: listen to your parents and folks that are older or have more experience than you. That doesn't mean to do everything they say, but still take it to heart. Odds they learned it the hard way (ie, royally screwed up) and are trying to save you a lot of grief. I wasted much of my twenties determined to "do things my own way", and things would've worked out much better if I had not been so headstrong.

• Do what you love, but remain practical about your career. For example, I loved art, decided to major in Graphic Design. The degree was a waste of money, but I learned much about how the world works, so it was not a total loss. A degree is not a magic ticket, it's often more of financial burden. Treat your interests and talents as a hobby to which you're very committed, get schooling in something that will pay the bills. If you're skilled and diligent, doors will open, and then you can truly "follow your dreams". (Man, that sounds sappy, but bear with me.)

• Finally, put others first. With strangers and friends, but especially in relationships, be as selfless and giving as you can. There's one I learned the hard way, trust me. I think Kurt Vonnegut said it best: "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies, 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'"

Best of luck to ya, kid!