Home For The Holidays

Finding means to comfortably go about life without any strong family attachment seems almost effortless in today's society. We live in such a fast-paced and entertainment-filled world, that the days and months seem to fly by. That is, until that wall calendar flips to November, the beginning of the annual holiday season. Sure, there are plenty of other holidays, but, in America, Thanksgiving and Christmas (and Hanukkah, of course) come with countless reminders of the importance of family. They seem to line almost every store window and pop into every television spot. When that time of year comes around, some of us even have a tendency to break the bank to fly ourselves around the world just to share a couple meals with those we call family. Everyone has their own homecoming, a little celebration of our love for those close to us. It's a very joyous time of the year for most of us where we shower each other with lavish gifts and sweet professions or our love for each other. Unlike Valentine's Day, this is a time when whether that love be romantic or platonic holds little relevance. It's a time when we seem to throw it all out there, to everyone around us, and show our love and appreciation. It's a time of year when basically everyone gets to feel that reciprocated and just hang back with a few days off, some good food, and some interesting company. Sure, we may have a few squabbles here and there, but it's definitely interesting, and we look back on it in a positive light. Then, we repeat it again the next year.

It sometimes feels as if the true significance tied to these holidays is forgotten, as if we forget what it is we are celebrating. I could talk about that, but who hasn't? Sure, Thanksgiving is supposed to be about giving thanks for a bountiful harvest and a tradition started by the pilgrims, but now it's just a great time to overeat and hang out with family, maybe watch a little football. Sure, Christmas is supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it has become just a celebration of gift-giving and decoration. That is definitely something that perturbs me quite a bit, but I manage to find a touch of solace in it having at least grown into a celebration of cherishing those around us, and I still do my best to maintain its true importance and relevance strong in my mind. Everyone talks about that though. What I want to talk about is twofold.

It feels like I already made the first part clear above, but to put it simply, getting to enjoy the company of family is a fantastic opportunity and one that I cherish every year. It's a great feeling to see it shared across so many parts of a planet which seems to spend far more time fighting than it should.

The second part is how we can't forget those who don't get to enjoy that part of the year. There are a few reasons that come to mind, and not a single one is delightful. Some people don't get to share the time with their families because they don't have any family left. Some people don't get to partake in a family tree decorating session because they don't have strong family ties (these are the people who just say they don't want to). Some people can't make it out to be with their families due to work conflicts. Some people can't make it out to their families due to financial concerns. Some people can't make it out due to disabilities. The list goes on and on, but none of those situations are ones in which many people would want to find themselves. It's a time of year when society seems to go out of its way to remind them that they are alone. Stores and restaurants even shut down on the days where company would grant them the most peace. Cities seem to shut down as people draw into their homes for some alone time with their family. Those empty streets are a depressing sight that just pours salt in an open wound for these people. Now, I'm not saying anyone should avoid spending time with their families or enjoying the holiday season, but I am suggesting a change, at least in our mindset. I think we should make stronger efforts to keep ourselves from forgetting those around us, from the disadvantaged to the individuals we call friends. Any of them could be alone during the holiday season, and we should, if possible, attempt to both bring them into a more positive spirit and attempt to lessen how much we rub our joy in their faces. I'm not saying we should force anyone to partake in a holiday celebration they would prefer not to, but I am saying we should try to keep them from having to accept their loneliness, go out of our way to make them feel appreciated.

It feels like a sad light to bring on the holiday season, and, for that, I do apologize. I love the holidays, and I wish I could get all the people in my life wrapped up into one big celebration. I just found myself reflecting and felt like putting it in writing. It almost goes without saying that it's this love of the festivities that leads me, every year, to clear my schedule so that I can make it home for the holidays.