Published on November 21, 2007
Thanksgiving is upon us. It marks the advent of the madness universally known as the “holiday season.” We join the masses in celebration of brotherhood, unity, peace, love and understanding, and consumerism, depression, guilt and stress. It’s a season exemplifying the proverbial double-edged sword. Love it, or hate it.
This is also the season for traditions. Most families have them in one form or another. We go to Grandma Jones’ for turkey, then Grandpa Blake’s for dessert. Or, dad and step-mom’s for Thanksgiving, then mom and step-dad’s for Christmas. We always have turkey or we always have ham.
For college students starting out on the road to independence the holiday season can be especially stressful. For many of us, new friendships or relationships open different possibilities for the celebration. New people have become important in our lives, and these people have their own traditions to share, often wanting us to be a part of the season as they know it.
As students, we are especially challenged when these situations arise. It is really hard to get mom or dad to understand that we really would like to go someplace else.
“But, we have always (fill in the blank). We were planning on you!”
As we grow into our adult skins, few occasions can create the feelings of guilt and stress associated with the holiday season. But, part of that maturing process involves the thoughtful consideration of where our priorities lie. Perhaps this is the time to look carefully at the long-held traditions of our own families, and try to honestly assess how these might fit into the adult life we want for ourselves.
Many of us will reject outright some of the habits our parents and grandparents have established over the years. Others will not wish to change a thing. Some will know exactly how to negotiate a compromise with parents and families. For a few, hurt feelings will resonate for years.
Whatever our thoughts on the traditions of our own families we must remember that parents and grandparents once walked in our shoes. Like us, they were challenged with deciding what they wanted to carry into their own adult lives. Perhaps a gentle reminder to them, and a solicitation of advice about how they handled the transition, can help all of us get through the stress of this season in a way that blends the old habits of past generations with the new habits we wish to establish in our own.
Wherever this season takes you, whatever traditions you embrace, the staff of the Corsair wishes you a holiday season of love and harmony. We hope the friendships and traditions you embrace here at PJC will bring you peace and joy in the years to come.