Bailey Garret, Charger Staff
As I was walking through a department store the other day, searching for a gift, I stopped to listen to the Christmas Carols blaring over the loud speaker. I don’t think that the Christmas spirit had dawned on me until that point.
My reactions to significant periods have always been somewhat delayed, but never before has the holiday season taken so long to hit me. I think that I have become so involved with school work, extracurricular activities, and a swarm of college applications that I have forgotten to enjoy Christmas. I need to recognize the need to slow down and enjoy the holidays.
The holiday season has always been one of my favorite times of year. It seems the little things, like walking down the hall and seeing the Christmas lights and turning on the TV to find “It’s a Wonderful Life” playing on three separate channels, brighten up my day.
However, this year as I open the mailbox every day looking through the Christmas cards to search for the college acceptance letter, it just does not seem right. As a senior, it is hard to imagine that this will most likely be the last Christmas I celebrate living at home with my family, and while I am excited about the opportunities that lay before me, it brings tears to my eyes to think that I will not always be spending the majority of the holiday season with my family. To me, the holidays are supposed to be time spent with loved ones.
With this thought, I believe that I need to focus my attention to the thousands of American families that must spend Christmas without their loved ones. Our country is dealing with its worst tragedy to date. Thousands of people died in the September attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon; many brave firefighters and police officers gave their lives in hopes of rescuing just one person from the rubble; and even more Americans are oversees representing our country in the fight against terrorism, and all the while their families are forced to spend the holidays without their presence.
Because of my schedule, I have not realized that the holiday season is here and I have not had the opportunity to share my sympathy for those who have lost loved ones in the last year. May we all realize how blessed we are to live in a country where we can celebrate whatever holiday we wish, and may we all be thankful to those who have touched our lives.
Thank you to loved ones for giving me encouragement and kindness during the holidays and all year round. May you all realize how special you are and the joy you bring to my life. Happy Holidays!
Article prepared for web by Ashleigh Clark
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