Tag: life

Appreciation for New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day have never been an exciting time for me. I have always thought they were a bit boring in comparison to Christmas. Yes, I know it’s a bit early for some to be talking about Christmas now. I can almost hear the jeers in the background now. “Can we get through Halloween and Thanksgiving first!” I see it every year in my Facebook timeline. People are upset that they see and hear about Christmas before we even reach December. I’m the opposite of people who feel that way. Christmas is my favorite holiday! I’m perfectly fine with seeing the Christmas displays in September, and the deals that you can find during retail’s Christmas in July sales. As we get closer to the end of November, the home displays start to go up. The beauty of colorful lights are everywhere. There are Christmas plays, concerts, and markets where you can find amazing gift ideas. The minute December first hits, I’m instantly playing my Christmas music. I’m looking out for all the Christmas movies and specials. It’s just enough to get you in the Christmas spirit. It’s truly a happy time for me. I love writing out Christmas cards and picking out the perfect gifts. When all the excitement of the 25th is over, I feel somewhat sad. All the fun and excitement are all over.

I never understood why people were so excited about New Year’s holiday. After all the fun of Christmas, what was so exciting about New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day? Sure I would go through the motions of saying happy new year. I even had traditions that I would participate in with family. Then I would set my goals and write down my resolutions, but to me it was just a boring holiday. It couldn’t compare to all the joy of Christmas. But as I get older I see things differently. Living through a pandemic changes your perspective. I don’t think I have to tell you how rough of a year 2020 was, because we all went through it together. Seeing death literally in every part of the world, and your own country can change the way you see things. When I celebrated New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day I walked into the new year grateful. Walking into 2021 was a true gift. I lived through a rough time, but I survived to see another year. I got to live another day with the possibility of experiencing an entire new year.

We’re into year two of the pandemic. Miraculously I’m still here. While I’m still excited about celebrating Christmas, I’m equally excited about opening the doors to 2022. While 2021 is not without it’s challenges, it was a year of blessings for me. I am thankful for every single one of them, but most importantly I’m glad I lived to experience them. Every single day we get to walk this earth is a blessing. We shouldn’t take it for granted. If I make it to New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day again, it will be just as special as any other holiday. It will be special because I survived another pandemic year. There are a lot of people who didn’t make it out of 2020, and there are others who won’t see 2022. If you’ve been given another year at life, celebrate it like it’s your favorite holiday.

Birthdays

I love celebrating birthdays. When I was young it was always exciting to go to or have a birthday party. There were balloons, ice cream and cake and of course presents! When you went to someone else’s party, sometimes they would give out goodie bags filled with toys and candy. Those were good times!

As I got older, I noticed that some people aren’t as excited to celebrate. For some it’s hard to wrap their mind around getting older, for some it could be other reasons. Maybe things have happened over time that make them less excited to celebrate their special day. For purposes of this post, I’m going to talk about getting older.

Prior to the pandemic, I would still get excited for my birthday to come. I would plan out the whole entire day. I had minor thoughts about getting older, but it never stopped me from celebrating. Other people I would come across would celebrate the whole month, but there were a few who didn’t even want them to know the day they were born. The thought of getting older just paralyzed them. I would hear people say they stopped counting after a certain age. I didn’t quite understand it. I understand wanting to stay young, but I also know it’s a blessing to appreciate each year we are given.

When the pandemic started, all my birthday plans were canceled. I was disappointed but knew it was necessary. I’m sure this is the story for most if not all people. As the first birthday passed, everything changed for the world. It definitely changed for me. Hearing about death more often than usual was overwhelming and sad. It made me remember to be more thankful for every day that I have on earth.

Instead of looking at your birthday as a day you become older, look at it as another day that you survived a pandemic. Look at it as another year of life, and another day to be grateful. It’s another amazing year to pursue your dreams, and accomplish your goals. With all that has and is going on in the world, you’re still here!

In a previous post, I mentioned how someone asked me to smile because I was in the land of the living (pre-pandemic). That woman’s words echo through me today. At that time I thought to myself, you’re right. But I appreciate that statement even more. Every birthday I’m granted on this earth, is a true blessing. I get to walk among the living. The alternative to getting older is not an option for me, and I hope it remains true for a long time.

So when your birthday rolls around this year or next, don’t look at it as an awful day because you’re getting older. Celebrate because you survived. Be thankful to be older. Some people didn’t make it past your age, others didn’t make it to your age. Getting older and growing a gray hair or two (maybe more) is a true blessing. Celebrate your day! Celebrate with your love ones. You don’t have to have a party or do something big. Celebrate the way you see fit. Take comfort in the fact that you still breathe. That is literally the best birthday present of all!