I am a VEGAN

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. Our family had a lovely Christmas Day - both my kids were here ( my son with his wife), my brother and his wife also came. For the first time in a long time, we had it at my house. I realize how much fun that was for me (and a little stressful, of course), but it made decorating the house and preparing the table and menu much more important and fun. My husband and I did a lot of this together and it is helping us renew the feelings and times we had just the two of us before we had children. I didn't realize how hard it would be to stop having the worry about my childrens' lives at the intense level that it had been when they were growing up. Each day, with my husband's and their help, I am making progress. Finding that balance between being there for them as young adults and moving on more to my own personal life's goals is not easy for me. BUT, I am the kind of person that believes in personal growth and freedom with responsibility - existentialism. I do not Fly from Freedom. Freedom is the most precious gift we as human beings have. It may only be as simple as being free to change an attitude about something or as drastic as leaving old circumstances behind and experiencing new ones. Life is full of choices and alternatives. To be free is to embrace this truth and allow the confidence and fearlessness that it brings to continue to move forward despite some inevitable bad choices. The next fork in the road is just a few feet ahead every time. I guess this is my wish for everyone this holiday season - to embrace your own freedom and responsibility - to continue to explore and grow and never give up on the new opportunity or moment of happiness and joy to be found every day or around the next corner. I will picture my Dad and his joy at waking up each and every day - whistling a tune - confident to meet the new day's challenges.