The first morning that I woke up in my bed at home, I had inkling that this break would turn out very relaxing. Each morning, I got my cup of coffee, sat in front of the television and would begin my daily Hallmark marathon. My mom would eventually join me and make us breakfast. She’d cook some type of eggs—hard-boiled, scrambled or fried—accompanied with turkey bacon.
This relaxing start to my day foreshadowed the relaxing winter break ahead.
Eventually my two-year-old niece would pop her head into the living room, holding one stuffed animal and sucking on another one Her ability to smile while not letting the stuffed owl slip from her mouth still impresses me. My mom and I would alternate from watching television to playing with my niece (because, come on, who can resist a cute face).
The day would then proceed with minimal movement from the recliner. I only got up for the bathroom or when I couldn’t ignore my stomach making its mating noises for the food within the refrigerator. I would help my mom make dinner for my family, which served as one of my favorite activities.
In a weird way, I appreciate the commotion of everyone returning home from work, the house buzzing with noise. It contrasts with the quiet I experience at school Most people keep their heads down and focus on themselves. I can’t act goofy at school, as walls constantly stand up, preventing us from acting authentically. I dropped all those walls the moment I walked through the front door of my house.
I stayed in my pajamas all day without anyone questioning me. I hogged the television, not worrying about whether I should share it with anyone else. It felt like pure bliss.
I didn’t even have school on my mind this entire time. At some point, I even forgot I still attended college.. It truly felt like I had nothing waiting for me after the holidays. While I felt as though I had no responsibilities, I had intended on maintaining productivity. It just didn’t happen. I didn’t apply for scholarships. I didn’t apply for internships.
I don’t regret it, though. After busting my butt for four months straight, I felt like I deserved a break.
I needed those three and a half weeks of break. It gave me time for catching up on much needed sleep. I caught up Legacies, Riverdale and Charmed since I had to keep postponing watching these shows because of late night sessions in the library. Overall, it felt incredible to just de-stress. I felt the tensions from the past semester begin unwinding as the days went on.
Sometimes, we need to slow down and enjoy the present moment.. Life doesn’t revolve around constant work to reach a goal. Sometimes we need a reminder as to why we made our goals in the first place. For me, spending time with my family does just that.
