Sentiments on sentimentality

Tonight, my sister's family and I put the Christmas tree up. I know it's before Thanksgiving and all that, but it was a good time to enjoy the beginning of the season before all the chaos commences.

As the little ones were putting on ornaments, we were all talking about the origins of some of them. Some were just a few years ago, from the kids' first milestones. Some were a bit longer -- like an ornament from when my sister got her first apartment. All of my ornaments are packed in a box somewhere for now, but I got to thinking about all the sentimentality that comes with the holiday season.

Regardless of your religion or what holidays you celebrate, many of us associate holidays with traditions and childhood. I remember how excited I always was to put the first ornament on the tree. Seeing that same excitement now on the faces of my niece and nephew takes me back to that, but it also reminds me of how many memories and traditions they have yet to form. It's a lot to look forward to.

It's easy to get caught up in the end of the year, for whatever reason. Whether it's accomplishing all your goals for the year, trying to budget how you'll buy gifts for everyone, finishing final exams or just plain being overwhelmed by life -- November and December easily fly by. But seeing how simple and exciting it is for kids reminded me that it doesn't have to be that way.

Of course, all the problems are still there. Tests and papers don't vanish because you want to live in the moment. The need to budget doesn't disappear due to cheer. That being said, I hope to take a step back every once and a while over the next month or so and just be thankful. I may be overwhelmed at times, but I'm thankful for where I'm at. There may be a lot that to prepare before the end of the year, but I'm just looking forward to getting to spend quality time with family and friends in the weeks to come.

I hope to get as sentimental as possible this holiday season. I think the more I remember what the season meant to me as a child, the more it'll mean to me now.