Rushin' Christmas

I LOVE CHRISTMASTIME. Love it. Everything about it.

A few weeks ago, I went out after class to do some casual shopping.  I walked into JC Pennys and was surprised to see it was already decorated for Christmas.  I walked around and listened to the holiday music, and all of a sudden my day got just a tad brighter.  That same day I came home with a bag of cinnamon pone cones and a mini Christmas tree for my room.  Decorations too.  I’m one of those freaks that loves spending hours outside in the freezing cold putting up lights, and trekking down row after row of Douglass firs to find the perfect tree. I love Christmas shopping, have holiday music playing nonstop, day and night, and I love buying silly gifts just because I know it’ll put a smile on someone’s face.

This Christmas feels different, though.  This year’s been a challenge, and honestly I’m glad it’s coming to an end, and we get a fresh start.  However, I’m not letting that affect my Christmas spirit.  The other day was one of my biggest challenges yet.  I went out shopping with my mom, a bit of a scrooge.  To her, Christmas means spending money and competing with my father for the best gift-giver. She neglects to realize the true meaning of Christmas.  I repeatedly told her that it doesn’t matter how much money she spends, what she buys, or anything of that sort.  We love her no matter what. Christmas is spending time together as a family.

Actually, that’s my favorite part of Christmastime.  It’s never been the presents for me, or even the decorating.  I love how everyone acts at Christmas, cheerful and happy.  I love getting to spend time with my family; aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins.  I love having the friends that I don’t get to see on a daily basis home for the holidays.  More than that, I love my attitude at Christmastime.  I’m always happy, even when things aren’t necessarily going my way.

In two days it’s Thanksgiving.  I get to see my family and spend hours on end eating guilt-free.  One of my best friends came home Friday, and the other comes home in about 12 hours. My cousin from Virginia is coming up too, who I haven’t seen in eight months. Christmas music is on the radio.  Friday I get to decorate the house. Everything and everyone are coming together, and I couldn’t be happier. My favorite time of year is coming in full swing. Let’s go.

Somethin' Needs to Happen

“I would much rather have regrets about not doing what people said, than regretting not doing what my heart led me to…” -Brittany Renee



If I’ve learned one thing this year, it’s not to take your life for granted, or limit yourself and your abilities.  As a kid, our parents would tell us we could be anything we wanted…an astronaut, fireman, doctor, ballerina…and we believed them.  Why along with age suddenly comes a lack of imagination and ambition?

Up until a few weeks ago, I was a Pre-Physical Therapy major.  I liked the subject all through high school, and thought it’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.  A year and a half in, I realized I wasn’t into it.  I had no motivation to do my schoolwork, and had no desire to be in that field anymore…at all.  So, I began to think about what would make me happy, something I would enjoy doing for the rest of my life.  Coffee. Music. Food. Yes. Entrepreneurship, here I come, I’ve decided to be my own boss. The past few weeks have been a challenge; I tell everyone my idea and most people shoot it down in a second.  At first it bothered me, seeing all my hopes crushed instantaneously, but then I realized that it didn’t matter.  It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.  It matters what I think. I’m not living for them.

This doesn’t just apply to career moves.  It applies to relationships and family ties as well.  I just talked to my Uncle Joe this evening.  We have a running joke between the two of us; we’re the oldest children, so we have to make all of the sacrifices to help our families run more smoothly.  We complain that we live for everyone else, and this is true.  However, we are an exception to the rule of living for yourself, we don’t mind it. We do it willingly.  Why?  Because that’s our job, to help out, and to sacrifice our time, money, and energy to help our family.  If I’m going to live for anyone, I’m glad I picked the right people…

I’m seeing how living for others can also cause some serious role strain in a relationship.  I know a young lady, a senior in high school, struggling to balance her studies, college preparations, relationship, friends, family, and work amongst others. The problem is simple to pick out: she’s busy trying to please everybody, and not pleasing herself. The solution on the other hand is much more complicated, because simply put, you can’t make everyone happy.  Sometimes you need to prioritize, think of what’s most important to you, and eliminate the access stress.  Though it maybe hard and might take a toll on others involved, it’s something that has to happen.  Seventeen is much too young to be wearing yourself to the bone, trying to please every person in your life.  Cut your hours, put off some college stuff, ditch the boyfriend, and do whatever it takes to make you wake up every morning with a smile and a light heart.


There’s a difference between living to help others and living for others.  Helping is fine, and in many cases even gives you some sort of rewarding feeling, knowing that you could be of assistance.  Living for someone is very different; it involves putting many of your hopes and ambitions aside, and helping that person to move forward.  Simply stated, don’t risk losing yourself to help someone else.  You live your life for you, because as long as you can look at your own life with a smile and satisfaction, every little things gonna be alright.

John Mayer - No Such Thing