From the above lyrics of the popular song sung by Michael Buble’ titled, “Feeling Good “ which leads to the fact that I haven’t kept any family traditions from when I was growing up. And, it feels so good.
Years ago, post divorce and early 40s, I felt changes were needed. My parents expected me to drive to their house for Holiday for Christmas on back country roads in the frozen tundra with only a short time off from my then employer. With my birthday so close to the Holiday, I wasn’t always in the spirit of the season. It got tiring. One year, I told them that I was staying at my house three hours away when I was 50 or so years old. They put me through much grief to say the least which proved worthless. That Holiday was the most peaceful and beautiful time of not being under my parents roof and expectations.
After losing my long time employment, I ended up moving 1200 miles away thus ending my commitment to be at my parents house for Holiday. They tried legally stopping my move from lawyers who remembered me from high school cheerleading which proved favorable plus owning my own home and previous longtime employment. Competent was proved.
From my above experience, I have not kept any of my family traditions from my childhood. If it wasn’t forced and treated incompetent from my siblings and parents, I would have thought differently.
Christmas was the only Holiday that was important and not the others. A festival in the small town where I went to high school became a family tradition that I was pushed to attend in July.
Truthfully, it felt like a new life and a new chapter for me when I was no longer under pressure to attend events with people who felt like they had to control me because I’m different.
Live your life that fills your spirit and create your own traditions.
Leslie Elizabeth David.
The Magnificent Modern Mature Woman 