Tishkel I finally got round to hanging up Christmas decorations earlier this week and it felt a bit nostalgic. It made me reminiscent of childhood shenanigans: playing and dancing along to Booney M and ABBA with my sister, having a jolly good time as the mood got set for the festivities. I don’t know what songs get you in a Christmassy mood, but these albums top my playlist.
Anyway, I hung up the decorations and set out the lights but I just didn’t feel like it was time to have them on. So when I realized my Dad thought otherwise, I found myself laughing and wondering why he turned on the lights “already”. I mean, we’re still in the early half of Christmas so should we wait, right? And then I laughed as I wondered to myself: what exactly am I waiting for? Christmas day itself? So what if the batteries eventually run down – aren’t they supposed to be used anyway?
And it seems so “duh” when I put it like that but isn’t that how we tend to live life? A forever rat race we get sucked in; waiting for the right time, the right opportunity, the right setting of all the factors in place. It’s not like I’m saying we should settle for mediocrity, but it’s definitely important to enjoy the here and now; the little wins, even the not so good moments. It’s important to be present, to stop and smell the roses. Not every time gragra, sometimes just be.
Maybe it’s because 2023 is ending that I’m being reflective, but I really want explore this thing called romanticizing life. I’m not entirely sure what that would look like for me, but that’s what the journey is about: discovering different ways to enjoying life. Besides, maybe if I start manifesting rich aunty vibes, I’ll experience it, yunno. After all, if there’s one thing life keeps showing us, it’s that life’s too short to just run through it without actually living. It’s that someone could have been here yesterday, made plans today, but be gone tomorrow. I mean, this weekend makes what – eighteen years since the Sosoliso crash that claimed so many lives from my alma mater, but I’m pretty sure if they could be on earth for one more day, their loved ones would definitely cherish the gift.
So please cherish your gift – your life. I know sapa wan choke person but omo, when there’s life, there’s always hope. So if there’s nothing else you hold on to this season, remember you’re alive and kicking for a reason.