Perspectives

One day a father and his rich family took his young son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son, "How was the trip?" Very good, Dad!" "Did you see how poor people can be?" the father asked. "Yeah!" "And what did you learn?" The son answered, "I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden, they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden, they have the stars. Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon. When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless. His son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are!" Isn't it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, you've got everything! You can't buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!” ...Author Unknown

This Christmas

 My efforts to duplicate a unique Christmas tree ends with a hybrid and a wonderful tale. The story of this Christmas begins with last Christmas (2014) since it was my first in Alabama.  In short, I had to work and was lonely and alone…yes, both…and decorations were sparse.  But as the old year grew into the new year, southerners began to grow on me and some meaningful relationships have blossomed.  As a result of great planning and timing, I was gifted a tree by one of the coolest nurses I know.  Of course, my creative spirit was fed when I gazed upon the "book tree" on Pinterest.  In an effort to surprise the only other nerd on the planet who really gets me, my sister, I decided to construct our very own book tree to ring in the holidays.  

It hadn't dawned on me that I'd have to group the books according to depth to keep the rings of the tree level.  After several hours of emptying countless boxes of books while clearing the DVR, I realized that this was going to take a very long time.  I was only half done after an entire day…of course I had a lot of long breaks.  I was so frustrated and desperate to find a faster finish.  In a moment of clarity, I remembered the "gifted tree" with lights and managed to combine the book foundation and the lighted tree.  I think it's an awesome merge of the old and the new, a wonderful way to be traditional yet forward thinking. This paradox fits me.

All in all, going into the Christmas season, I reflect on the traditional things I've known and the way I'm forging into adulthood...even though I said I'd never grow up.  I'm grateful for each day that I'm given and those that are a part of my life in every way.  And as a silver lining -- I won't be working on Christmas!