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.