Life gets hard sometimes.
Problem after problem; it seems to never end.
Life gets sad sometimes.
Unexpected losses occur.
Life gets confusing sometimes.
Crossroads are reached, dilemmas are faced.
Life gets hard sometimes,
But that’s not all it is.
It’s also cherished memories,
Bonds and relationships,
Lessons learned,
And barriers broken down.
Life can seem hard sometimes.
Life can seem wonderful sometimes.
But it’s what you make of it
That truly counts.
During the Christmas Eve, I spent time with the side of the family I don’t see very often. I go to experience my first Christmas Eve party while photographing the experience of the people there. I’ve never cared much for the holiday, but I do like to spend time with the family, especially because I’m not with them all the time.
There is much beauty in the little things.
The way your face lights up when you’re excited
It starts with a small smile and continues to be a wide grin that can brighten any day.
How your fingers get jittery before an important event.
It could be a test, a presentation, or a performance, but your fingers will always receive the urge to move. They’d either snap, or tap against the table, or work with the rest of your hand to clench.
Your instant reflex to open and hold doors or pull out a chair for someone
Whether it’s me, my friend, or a stranger, there’s never a day when you’re not moral or polite.
The “good morning” texts I receive everyday
Sometimes they’re beautiful paragraphs, sometimes it’s something short and sweet, and on other days, it’s a simple good morning followed by a heart (emoji).
The way we embrace when meeting and before parting ways
Your hands always linger near the small of my back for a second or two while you look into my eyes and smile.
There is much beauty in the little things.
Simple actions accumulated and before I knew it,
I found someone that I love.
Even though you’re not with me now,
I won’t sit and mope around,
For I know I’ll see you again.
On that day we’ll talk for hours,
Laughing at what we went through without
each other,
And when you have to leave once more,
I won’t feel an emptiness in my heart,
For I know I’ll see you again.
In a few years’ time we’ll say hi and
embrace,
We’ll talk about the challenges we faced,
And I’ll meet your three kids you swore
you’d never have
But when it’s time to part ways,
I know I won’t be afraid,
For I know l’ll see you again.
If we both get to be gray and old,
But you’re the first one to go,
I won’t be worried,
For I know I’ll see you again.
Perhaps it’ll be in another life, a vision, a
dream,
But I’ll see you again.
And It’ll feel like you never left.
Our last encounter will not be the end.
Dedicated to my friend who I haven’t seen in way too long, I hope you’re safe ❤️
Originally Published on The Harbinger
As one walks down the aisles of a department store, shining ornaments, inflatable snowmen, assorted stockings, and green and red can be seen all around, yet there is not one dreidel or kinara in sight.
What many fail to realize is that Christmas is not the only holiday in December, nor the most important; it’s simply the most commercialized.
Everyone knows the story of old Saint Nicholas, and yet there are many who don’t know the history behind Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, the days its celebrated, or even their duration.
“[The] majority of the people here celebrate Christmas,” said Allyson Bojorge, a senior at MLEC. “They know that there are individuals who celebrate different holidays, but they brush them off, and I think that makes some people feel left out. No one should have to feel left out.”
The first thing one must know about Hanukkah is that it takes place around December, sometimes late November. It always begins the 25th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the ecclesiastical year (Hebrew Calendar). However, this date varies within the more commonly used Gregorian calendar.
The story of Hanukkah is centered around the belief that miracles are indeed real, and that there is great strength in numbers.
It is said that when the Jews were able to take back their temple after it was destroyed, they only found enough oil to light the menorah for one day, but miraculously, it lasted for eight.
Therefore, Hanukkah, the Jewish “Festival of Lights,” is celebrated for eight days, and on each day the ninth candle is used to light another candle on the menorah.
The days are filled with special songs, prayers, giving and receiving gifts, and eating foods fried with oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes). The dreidel, a spinning top with four sides, is also played with during the holiday.
Just as Christmas has its importance to the different people that celebrate it, to many, Hanukkah has great significance and meaning.
“It’s a constant reminder of the miracles that impact our lives, an inspiring sense of hope and the ability to trust in what you believe to guide the future,” said Hadassah Weiner Friedman, a teacher at Sabal Palm Elementary School, who celebrates Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday, is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. The holiday follows seven principles: Umoji, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Nia, and Imani (unity, self determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith).
Every night a candle is lit on the kinara. There are seven in total—one black, three red, and three green—that each represent a principle. Each day, one of the principles is discussed, and typically stories are told, songs are sung, dances are performed, and conventional are meals eaten.
Like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa holds a special place in the hearts of those that celebrate it. The holiday is of much importance to them.
“During Kwanzaa, I usually spend the day with my whole family and we share nothing but laughter, food, music, and love,” said Stephanie Beaumont, a front desk manager at The Strand, a hotel on South Beach, and Kwanzaa lover. “No matter what, family is all we have. The holidays mean so much to me… that’s the time I get to be with my friends and family, and share fun moments [with] them.”
However, neither holiday is given enough recognition. There aren’t as many menorahs as ornaments and stockings seen at public places, and there are even fewer kinaras.
“I’ve never seen a kinara in person before. I’ve only seen them in pictures or movies,” said Briana Sterling, a sophomore at MLEC.
Christmas isn’t the only important holiday that takes place during the “holiday season,” and we shouldn’t act like that’s the case. It is unfair to prioritize one holiday when there is still so much to learn about the different cultures around us.
Inside an Optimist's Mind 