ALT-1 Secrets to Enjoying Family Holidays
The holidays are approaching again. They sneak up on me every year, like the expiration date on the milk carton. But then i take a whiff, and everything comes rushing back. This time of year depression grows like snow, and my heart freezes over. I love my family. We all love our families. I know because every year at least once i think "I hate them! I love them because they're my family, but i hate them!"This must be natural. This year in particular is frustrating to me. A friend is coming back for the holiday season, but I know that she's changed since the last time I gave her a hug. She's someone i don't know anymore.Every year a person or a thing goes wrong, and i want to run away and hide in the closet. I think I'm going to spend my Christmas re-reading Les Miserables and drinking eggnog (which some cousin or another graciously spiked).What is it about the holidays that tears us apart? The songs are jolly, and we all get presents. It should be perfect.That is the problem, i think. We wish for everything to be perfect. This year, i hope the turkey doesn't get fully cooked, so that we can spend the extra hour at the table really talking. I hope we get snowed into the airport. I hope i messed up and bought everyone a gift that they already have. I want a good fight. I want to get down and dirty and find the root of all our problems. Instead of playing like things are perfect, and pretending that my house is this clean all the time, i want to be a disappointment in my mother's eyes. I want her to see that even though i haven't gone to college, my life isn't ruined. I want to have a belly-laugh and mean it.This Christmas I'm going to be totally and utterly myself, and hope that i don't get rejected. If i do get rejected, I'm going to realize that it's not my problem. I'm going to go all out, because money doesn't buy happiness. I'm going to love myself.I'm going to make the holidays whatever i wish to make them, because if i don't let my family know that i love them now, i never will. I'm not going to get caught up in what the holidays should be, I'm going to get wrapped up in what they are. They are a time for love and peace and charity-but most of all they are a time for love. I'm going to love my family even if it means i embarrass them at the Christmas party, or sing too loud in church. This year, I'm going all out.Maybe the holidays will be spectacular this year. Maybe they won't. Either way, i promise not to think about it until after new years. i promise that i won't make this holiday about me. I promise to trust my family and listen to what they have to say. I promise I'm going to make a difference.I hope that this holiday season becomes everything you hoped for and more. I hope that you find the love and happiness that you deserve. I know that i would give it all to you and more if i could. Have a happy holiday. Or, better yet, have a real one.
