It’s the most wonderful time
Welcome to December, my favorite part of the year! All the festivities going on and decorations going up around town just seem to put everyone in a more positive mood. At times it’s hard to go through the holidays knowing 4 very important people are missing from my life, but I have to find the silver lining. I have to think about and remember how they would want me to celebrate this time of year.
I spent the last few days making sure my apartment was perfectly made up for the holidays. I put a wreath on my door, lights up around my place, and I made sure to put up my 2 Christmas trees. If that doesn’t tell you how much I love Christmas, I am not sure what will. One of the trees is a very special tree as it is Olivia’s old Christmas Tree. I take extra care putting it up and decorating it every year to make sure it looks just perfect. My team from work this year got me ornaments for Christmas, a mini passport, a globe, and a mini suitcase. They were perfect additions to Olivia’s tree as we shared a love of traveling. It is so sweet looking at her tree every night and seeing those three ornaments and being able to reminisce on all our adventures. I am blessed to have been able to go on so many trips with Olivia and have created so many treasured memories. Don’t ever take your time with someone for granted, and make sure you don’t wait “until next year” to take that trip you’ve been dying to go on.
I also have a new member of my support circle and I could not be more thankful. Life has a way of giving you just the people you need, just when you need them. In the three months we’ve been together I have only had one anxiety attack, so needless to say he keeps me level-headed. It is nice to have someone who can help bring you back to reality; help you see the forest instead of the tree. It’s been amazing being able to spend the holiday season with someone so special to me. We have been able to go see Christmas lights, put up Christmas decorations, and even watch an unreal amount of Christmas movies together. He is even so caring as to let me roam every single Christmas aisle at any store we go into. I know he secretly hates it, but I very much appreciate him for doing it with a smile every single time (even if it is a forced smile). I am well taken care of and to be honest did not even know it was possible to be treated this well. Seems like it only happens in movies and books, but it is real. He indulges in all my love for everything, especially Christmas, and even took me to get pictures with Santa. Yes, even in my mid-20s I still get excited about pictures with Santa.
My family is coming into town for the holidays and I will again have a full house. Here is to hoping it goes better than last time and I am able to truly enjoy every moment with them. It has been a few years since I was able to spend the holidays with my parents, and I am beyond excited to be able to have that opportunity this year. It is one of my favorite childhood memories, spending Christmas together as a family. I hope it doesn’t stop anytime soon, but with adult life being what it is, sometimes it is hard to get the time off from work. It is also difficult to schedule travel for everyone since my immediate family is in three different states. Hoping that with my parents now being retired it makes travels and little easier as they are no longer restricted by corporate America.
Here’s to the most wonderful time of the year!!
Alexoxo
PS- The holidays can be a very difficult time, especially to those suffering from mental illness. Make sure you check up on your friends and family and spend time with them all, even if it is over the phone. If anyone is in need of an ear to listen please don’t be afraid to reach out, whether that be to me, your parents, siblings, friends, or even one of the many hotlines out there. You aren’t going through it alone and you can have a happy holiday season once again! 😊