Seasons of My Life: December
I’ve always been a very reflective person. I’ve journaled since 1997, blogged on and off since 2006, and I’ve been an active social media user (which makes time-hop all the more fun).
Not to get all religious on people but I’ve always been a fan of the quote “To everything there is a season, a time to every purpose under heaven.”
Here’s a glimpse at my recollection of where I was in December of each year.
2014-2015: Mature girlfriend. Lots of fresh balsam candles, pajamas, and holiday movies while snuggling with Freddie and T. Making it a point to spend quality time with friends throughout the month.
2012-2013: Making up for lost time drunken fest. I finally had the opportunity for all the shenanigans I always wanted to experience like dressing up like a Christmas tree for sloppy santa bar crawls. Being around great, fun, friends – eating, drinking, being merry 24/7.
2010-2011: Running and dating. Was still navigating the beginnings of my first real relationship and about year later the end of it which led to lots of dating and running. In 2010 I started my love affair with running and by December 2011 I was training for my first marathon. I was really finding myself and loving myself.
2008-2009: Lonely Decembers. I remember watching so much TV, shopping aimlessly, and crafting. I wasn’t happy for a lot of reasons and sort of hibernated. I was always so excited to roadtrip up the east coast for the holidays with visits along the way, most notably in Charlotte and Baltimore to see friends.
2007: 1st without Daddy. My dad died the Sunday before Thanksgiving so really the whole holiday season was a blur. I do recall wearing reindeer antler headbands at the bar with friends and pointing to them whenever an awkward guy would hit on us since I had recently taught them awkward antler.
2001-2006: Finals stress. Oh college and grad school. I don’t miss finals week at all. It was always a mix of studying, banging out papers, and creative procrastination. Along with lots and lots of boy band christmas cds.
1998-2000: Empty, no decorations. These were the early years after my parents got divorced and holidays turned to absolute shit. Most of this time I’ve mentally blocked, but I recall one year having a “Christmas chair” in lieu of a tree because my mom refused to put anything up.
1997: AOL isolation. I’m pretty sure I started journaling because I knew life as I knew it was changing. Puberty, the rise of AOL, my parents’ loveless marriage on it’s last legs. AOL was a place to find community (A/S/L anyone), but also a place to escape and hide. Writing was my safe place and Hanson’s Snowed In became my favorite Christmas CD (both are still true).
A life in reverse only makes sense when it’s lived in order. Each season has it’s purpose and will come and go. I’m curious to see what the future holds.