By J.D. Eddy, Editorial Editor
Around this special time of year, right after Thanksgiving, we are still thankful for everyone and everything we have in our vicinity. Now it is the season of giving.
As we all enter into Christmas break, we should take some time to reflect on what makes this holiday so special.
College students have an appreciation for a one-month break between the spring and fall semesters, but there is a more special meaning behind it. That meaning is spending time with your family, giving your time to others if that’s something you want to do or even establishing things you want to do after New Year’s.
I will be staying in Alva to work until Christmas, but I will spend as much time with my family as I can.
One thing that is bad about being a student is that the break always throws me off my schedule. I do my homework on a certain day, work on certain days and take pictures when I have time. There is always a bit of an adjustment period when I come back from Christmas.
This year, that may not be the case. I will be working almost every day, working out and studying for the classes I have in the spring. If this is the case for you, then find something that can keep you active throughout the break. Try to come up with a New Year’s resolution to follow; you could make it something simple like going to the gym more.
This is also the time of year for spiritual stuff. Something you can do more of is attend church. Now, I am not telling you to become religious; I’m saying it’s an option. There is something mesmerizing about Christmas: the nativity scenes, the Christmas day masses and the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
People tend to show that side more around this time, but being religious is different from being spiritual.
Being religious, you are just going through the motions, showing up just because it is a pattern and not because you want to strengthen you faith in God; you only think you need to be there. Being spiritual means you are strong in your faith, solidifying this bond with Jesus, spreading the Gospel, spreading happiness, spreading faith among the people in the world.
The difference shows, but if you do not want to do this or just don’t, believe that’s fine. It’s up to you to find happiness. Being strong in what you believe in is what makes you human. We have free will for a reason.
I enjoy this time of year, but this year is the only year our entire family is not together. My brother moved to Montana a few months ago, so I will not see him or my sister-in-law. Sure it’s tough, but I’m grateful they are still in my life no matter how far away. That is the point of this article, to show that there are amazing things in your life. I may be rehashing an old point from my Thanksgiving article, but the point stands. The difference now is you can give back while showing your appreciation through something more than material means. It’s time to show you’re grateful now and that you appreciate the people closest to you.
I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas. No matter what you are doing, find some happiness in it. There are people who care about you, whether they choose to show it or not. Just know there is someone thinking good thoughts about you.
If you want to express some of your experiences during this break, write a letter to the Northwestern News when the break is over. I would love to hear about some of your times and would be more than happy to put them on my page.
Merry Christmas!