Happy holidays everyone, and Happy News Year’s!
I hope everyone is enjoying/ed the holidays with their friends, family, chosen family.
My holidays have been nothing but a blessing. I may wake up on the couch every morning, or have one of my siblings wake me up at 7 in the morning with a poke in my face, or try to write this at the kitchen table while no one is here, but once I begin, the food starts to be served, bringing everyone to the kitchen table talking about how dogs don’t eat other dog meat cooked. I know, that’s my family, and I love them.
I apologize that I haven’t been consistent with my posts, but it has been difficult finding time for myself, because I’m either spending time with my siblings individually, or doing something as a family. As much as I love it, it is tiring. It’s not to complain, I just find myself being tired by 8 PM rather than 1 AM.
Christmas was amazing. My whole family was here together, presents were exchanged, laughter shared, love shown. We do the same thing every year. We all spend Christmas at a family member’s house until 12 AM, then we leave to our house, where my close tios’ and tias’ come over, gifts are given and exchanged, and we stay up until 3-4 in the morning. It’s always a beautiful experience, and this Christmas I appreciated it very much. As I sat there, I watched as everybody handed out their gifts to everyone. Each of the adults got the younger adults and children (and yes, I am considered one of those younger adults) a present. As I waited to open my presents, I watched as everyone else did first. The smallest things in life can truly be a blessing in disguise. My aunt, who is 10 years older than I, and who I also consider my long-time best friend, was also proposed to on Christmas in front of half my family, it was beautiful, and I am very happy for her and her long time partner.
New Years was just as amazing. My partner and I decided to spend it with our best friends from high school, who just recently got married. We picked them up from their house and went to my partner’s tia’s house, where they had a bonfire, cooked-marinated pork and posóle (which was heaven). After eating we then left to our best friends’ house, where we drank, hung out, and had a good time. It’s always fun with them. There parents weren’t home, which was even better because we had the whole house to sing, laugh, and dance!
I recently found a job! I’m officially employed within this capitalistic workforce. I also found my own apartment. Things are starting to look a lot better than they did a month ago. As I find myself going through my ups and downs, I also catch myself learning where to grow and where to better myself. Sometimes in this life we have to stick it through just a little longer. Longer can entail a day, week, month, even years! But who’s to say you can’t do it? Sometimes it feels as if all the bad in the world is destined to pile up on you when you just can’t anymore. But you can do it, trust me.
I’ve been keeping my exercise consistent. Although at home it is a lot harder to find the time to workout, many times I just have to suck it up and workout while everyone is watching t.v. in the living room. It has been hard to eat healthy though. Especially with all of the holiday food, like tamales, posole, menudo, champurrado, carne asada. Notice I did not mention 1 vegetable or fruit. It’s fine though, through it all I’ve managed to portion my food when I eat, even if my stomach is craving 3 more plates. Still, I wish I could indulge myself into all the good food, even more on days like today where the entire family comes together to celebrate the beginning of the new year.
I’ve been catching myself reflecting a lot these past couple of days. As we approach the new year, I also enjoy reflecting on the people who have made an impact on my life this year. I believe it is always important to recognize those who have impacted your life, either in a positive or negative way. I don’t do this with all my time, it just kind of happens; when I’m daydreaming or spacing out, washing the dishes, cooking. It’s nice though. To be able to point out those who we’ve learned and grew from, helps us understand a little bit more about our own selves.
It’s been SUPER cold here at home. No seriously, it’s freezing!! I can’t remember the last time home was this cold. Truthfully speaking, I don’t like the cold. My partner says winter is the time of the year to be able to dress up cute, with scarves, and beanies, jackets, boots; but honestly I prefer the heat, and that’s coming from someone who lives in a desert where it gets to 123 degrees in the summer.
Love. One thing I also catch myself doing more often than I usually do is appreciating my family. Appreciating my sister’s attitude, appreciating my grandpa’s stories, appreciating my brother’s annoyance, appreciating the nights we sleep at 6 in the morning, appreciating everyone.
My parents messaged me for Christmas, wishing me a merry Christmas. But on Christmas day I couldn’t build up the courage to message them back. I actually couldn’t build the energy to respond to anyone. It’s not to be mean, I just had one of those days, and unfortunately it had to be on Christmas, where I didn’t have the energy to talk to anyone. I’m sorry.
As today marks the 2nd day of the year, it’s good to have goals for this new year. They don’t have to be drastic, life-changing goals (or they can), but it’s good to focus on small goals that lead to a bigger goal. Accomplishing those smaller goals gives one more of a sense of accomplishment, and if failure comes around, that’s ok, there are more goals to be accomplished (or failed). The important thing is to learn, and grow from those goals.
Keep living, keep breathing, keep being you.
Thank you for reading y’all. I hope this new year brings everyone happiness, prosperity, and love.
Fausto Figueroa
Wednesday, 8:02 PM