Change. It’s
a scary word that I try and keep locked away in my brain under the section
entitled Try Not To Think About It. But change is inevitable; there’s no point in
trying to stop it. Although I try my
hardest not to think about it, change
is happening all around me. Being a 20
year old college student, change is something I have to live with almost every
day. If you haven’t already guessed it, I’m
not a big fan of change.
With
the holiday season here, this is where change is put on hold, right?
I mean think about it for a moment.
Family holiday traditions are what postpone change until after the
holiday season is over. Going to visit
family, baking cookies, singing holiday songs, and being together are moments
that occur every single year, don’t they?
Well, at least in my family they do.
During the holiday season, I am most happy, most thankful, and most
excited about family traditions that I have participated in since I was a
little girl. So why all of the sudden do I feel like the Grinch, and have been
singing the holiday blues? Is it because
I’m fighting change??
As I
am growing up, I am suddenly realizing that change is coming at a much faster
pace than I anticipated. I am suddenly
aware that in a year from now, I will be a senior in college getting ready to
graduate. I am also aware that my
younger brother will also be a senior (a senior in high school, that is) getting
ready to graduate as well. What?! Did I really just say that? It seems like just yesterday that my parents
were bringing him home from the hospital.
When did that change
occur?
Each
year as I grow older, I find something in my life that has changed. Whether it be a significant change or a minor
change, there is always something changing in my life. We just celebrated Thanksgiving not too long
ago. Maybe that’s where my uncertainty
and Grinch-like thoughts have developed from.
We usually have Thanksgiving dinner at my house each year. This year, we celebrated at my
grandparents. What’s so wrong with
that? Okay, so we switched it up a little
bit this year. No big deal, right? Right? During Thanksgiving break is also the first
time our family allows Christmas movies to be watched. Unfortunately, we were not able to watch a
Christmas movie that week. So what, who
cares, no big deal, right?
On
Christmas Eve leading up to Christmas Day, our most valuable traditions take place. Each year, we celebrate on Christmas Eve with
my mom’s side of the family at my grandparent’s house. The whole family gets dressed up real nice,
looking our best, and enjoying each other’s company while opening presents
leading up to dinner. After dinner, we
part ways and spend time with our other sides of the family. This year, with all of us grandchildren
getting older and being involved in more and more activities, we might have to
switch around a few things. Although the
day might be a little different than previous years, I’m still excited for a
memorable day with my family. What’s so
wrong with a little change? Can I really
be upset about traditions being broken because of us grandchildren growing up
and being more involved in activities?
I must be going crazy for even
considering a change as little as this to be something that could ruin the
holidays.
Maybe
I’m the sole problem in my holiday blues.
Maybe it’s just me and my animated mind
that has me going crazy. No one else
around me seems to be worrying about anything, or getting upset over silly
traditions that couldn’t take place this year.
Am I really the culprit with my Grinch-like thoughts and holiday
blues?
So I’m
growing up. Whoopie. I can only image that life will be throwing
curve balls of change my way for the next several years. I can’t change the world around me anymore
than I can change my height (and for those of you who know me know my feelings
on being vertically challenged). I can only sit back and enjoy the wonderful
gifts that I have been blessed with during this holiday season. There are so many things to be thankful for during this time of year and the things I am most thankful for are as follows: My family and friends, my health, and Canada for giving us Justin Bieber.
Happy
Holidays