Oftentimes, society wants us to fit in. It can make us feel pressured to conform. We strive to fit into the expectations that society has for us. We have to learn that it is important to do what makes us happy and comfortable. We must recognize that not everyone is made to fit in the world created for us. It is OK to stand out sometimes because no one is the same.

It makes me think about the holidays that we have celebrated over the past year. Holidays bring many memories and also many expectations for families in the world to experience that are traditional. But if anything over the last year or so has taught me is that nothing has to be traditional. We have to do what works for us. It doesn’t matter how hard those close to us try to fit us into what they want us to do. Sometimes life forces us into situations. We end up celebrating things in our own way.

If anything over the past several months, I have started doing things. These activities are in no way related to being traditional in nature. I often do not celebrate holidays with family as I did in the past. This change is due to my father’s earlier injury. In the past year, there were holidays. I spent them going to the VA Hospital, the County Home, the Local Hospital, or even the Emergency Room. My father has come home and needs care now. It is clearer that my life has changed. I celebrate holidays more on my own.

That is just how life is. My father’s father was not one to highlight holidays. It was ‘just another day’ for him. My family can no longer celebrate in the way that they once did. I have learned it is perfectly acceptable to celebrate at home in my own way. For years, we went camping or did other things. We did this after we were finally free from limited holiday time. Family or work commitments no longer restricted us. I am grateful to have had the time to do those things that I did enjoy. I cherished spending those early mornings at the state park campground. Now, I am content spending time in my own way. I understand that I have my own life to live.

Life is perfectly fine the way it is today. I have learned to slow down and untether from my mother after years of continually being by her side. I am learning to cope with life as it is now. This way of living seems unique to some, but it is my way of living. At first, it was hard. I did not want to break free from my mother and live a more independent life. My father’s quality of life depended on her caring for him. This is what marriage is about. Although I do not see my life that way, that is what their life is. I have to learn to live with my life as it is. I know that it is perfectly acceptable to celebrate things like holidays in my own way.