It's Better than the Alternative

I worked both performances of A Christmas Carol yesterday (I may not have mentioned, but I work part-time at the regional theatre in Greensboro as a bartender/glorified concession stand lady) and it really got me back into the Christmas spirit.  Not living in my own place has kind of put a damper on the holiday's for me - I feel like a guest in someone else's house - which is essentially what I am.  So, not having my decorations, a Christmas tree, or peace and quite kind of took it away.  But being at the theatre, and seeing all of these families and friends come in to watch the Dickens classic has really reminded me what the holiday season is all about.

Kindness.  Compassion.  Friendship.  Love.  Celebration.  Thanksgiving.

It doesn't matter if you believe in Jesus.  Or not.  Yes, that's why I celebrate Christmas, but what I really get out of the holiday are the six items above.  Technically Easter's the biggest Christian holiday when you get down to it - but back to the point.  Hanukkah embraces the Big Six above also - the miracle of one-days worth of oil lasting eight.  Sharing the time with your loved ones, reflecting on the miracles of life and being thankful for that with which you have been blessed.  That is what I get out of the Holiday season.

So backing up to the theatre, seeing all of these families and groups of loved ones coming to embrace the season makes me smile.  And last night a lovely couple, regulars I believe since I'm beginning to recognize them and their drink order, arrived early and ordered their cabernets.  Long story short, we got into a conversation about how tiny the other bartender is, and the lady said "I use to be that skinny when I was younger," to which I replied "Ya'll still are!"  She came at me with a great line - I Don't Mind Growing Old, It's Better than the Alternative.  Later, when the play had started and I was restocking behind the bar I thought about that comment - it's better than the alternative.  She's right - I'd rather be alive and bitching about being 27 than dead and not knowing what it's like to be 27.  Though you could argue I'd be dead, so I wouldn't know, but still.

So next time I start to wallow in self-pity, which I'll do because everyone does it at some point or another, I'll just think about the alternative.  Life's just one long journey full of lessons and, while I think I've had enough life lessons in the past four years for any one person, all I can keep hoping is that something great is waiting for me.  So maybe growing older and working towards my goals isn't a bad thing ;)  After all...I'd had to still be aged 23 and stuck on repeat Groundhog-Day style in that part of my life.

Because it's better than the alternative, Twenty-Seven and 2011 are going to be monster years for me.  I can feel it. ;)

Twenty Days til Moving Day!