A few months ago, I came across a post on social media that really struck me and this is what the post says, “This is your first time living this life. Give yourself some grace as you’ve learned to navigate through it. You don’t know what you don’t know until you know better.” Upon reading the post, I realized how important self-forgiveness is. The past year, 2021, was honestly a tough year for me. I lost dear loved ones and even braced through a strong storm, and I even made some wrong decisions thus I have been beating myself up constantly. However, it’s my first time going through that year, I haven’t been through a trial phase and so I must not loathe myself for all the hardships I have been through because it’s all part of the journey.
Here are some photos I took of my cousins a day before Christmas. We usually enjoy lounging around in the living room.
As another year commences, I try to look back and reflect on the past year. But before another year begins, we usually celebrate Christmas and New Year. After the typhoon, I had to relocate to the province since our place in the city did not have electricity nor water at that time. It was honestly such as struggle for all of us since our necessities were almost depleted. Since I needed to complete some work, I had to travel for 4 hours just to be home. Despite the distance, the journey was absolutely worth it because I got to be reunited with my family. It has been years since I celebrated the holidays with my grandparents and cousins and so being with them filled my heart with so much bliss. But sadly, my parents were unable to come home for Christmas. I had to accept reality as it is because it’s okay if Christmas seems different in this season.
On Christmas day, my cousins and I went to the town center to witness the merry and bright lights. We also ate street foods as we were strolling around.
Fortunately, after a week, my parents were able to come home for the New Year’s Eve celebration and they arrived just in time for it. As I was walking home from church, my eyes glistened with happiness upon seeing our car because aside from being reunited with my parents, I got to be reunited with my three dogs and finally we got to celebrate the New Year as a complete family.
What I realized from last year’s holiday season is that it’s okay if the holidays seem different in this season. We always hold on to this idea of Christmas back when we were younger where everything was merry and bright but this is reality. We are now grown-ups and have different perspectives in life. What matters most is that the holidays were celebrated with the ones that matter.
Our simple New Year's Eve celebration began by attending a Eucharistic celebration followed by dinner.
As we welcome another year, let us all be kinder to ourselves by giving ourselves the chance to navigate through life without the pressure of living it perfectly. It's okay to make the wrong decisions because everyday is a learning experience. Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
Disclaimer: The first photo was edited via Canva and some of the photos were taken by my cousin.
lifewithera is a 22-year old, college senior, an aspiring yogi, a furmom, and a wanderer, who writes stories about her personal life, mental health, fitness, travel, and just anything and everything her heart wants to speak. If you want to get to know her more, then you can connect with her through various social media platforms.
[INSTAGRAM](www.instagram.com/dublinxera) | [TWITTER](www.twitter.com/dubliinx) | [FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/eradublinx)