My favorite holiday is today
I've been thinking about holidays lately. Valentines' Day came and went, and I spent the day grumpy, because Valentine's Day is a real sugar nightmare for kids, and I've honestly been trying to eat less sugar these days too, and corporate-sanctioned chocolate greetings from my husband is a nice idea on one hand, but arbitrary and pointless on the other.
I have not been shy about proclaiming Halloween as my least favorite holiday. I know, I know. Many of you love it. Which is fine! I'm just not much for sugar + extra tasks (assembling costumes, which I have become admittedly hands-off about) + staying up too late + the doorbell ringing and making my dogs bark.
I try to be a positive person. But every time a holiday comes around, I get grumpy. So I thought, "Ok, Julie, you don't like Halloween or Valentine's Day, or birthdays or Christmas. What's your favorite holiday then?" You know what came to me first? Arbor Day. ARBOR DAY. Because trees are nice? But the holiday that popped into my head as a potential favorite was one that I don't even celebrate.
That made me even grumpier. Was I going to have to turn in my Positive Enthusiastic Optimist's Card?
And then it hit me. You know what my favorite holiday is? Today. No, not March 18, but today as in every day.
Every day is a new day, a gift. Every day is an opportunity to share yourself, to boost people up, to work toward your dream, whatever it is. Life can be so fragile, but if you're reading this right now, then you're alive, and that's amazing.
I don't like holidays where someone else is telling me what to celebrate and how to celebrate (I'm a rebel, I guess), but I am overjoyed to celebrate every day.
When the writing gets hard (because writing is hard), then this is what I remember. I am so lucky that I'm able to have this creative life and share it with you. And if I don't grab today by the hand and run toward the awesome, amazing, wonderful future? Then that's on me. It's on me to write the words, to live this dream, to work my butt off to make this work.
So I won't have a box of chocolates or candy canes or tiny Snickers bars or birthday cake just because that's what society tells me I have to do. Because every day deserves cake and presents and joy. Every darn day is a holiday worth celebrating. And while actually having cake and presents every single day is probably overkill, you can have the gift that is you, being yourself, being true, sharing your talent with the world.
And that is worth celebrating, my friend.
I'll be travelling around a bit this spring and summer. If you'll be in any of these places, come say hi! (There's more information and links on my website's events page.)