Ahhhh, the holidays are upon  us! Christmas music is already in full swing at the stores, Santa’s hopped his big ol’ booty on the money sucking couch at the mall and thousands of ungrateful little brats are making lists of things they want, but we damn sure know they don’t deserve. Can you tell how much I love the Holidays?

Bah Humbug!

Now, I’ve never been deprived on the holidays, so in actuality, I’ve no reason to despise it, but I do. It’s not that I don’t love my family and stuffing my face with turkey, rice & beans (yes, us Puerto Ricans have rice and beans for EVERYTHING!) pies and candy, I just don’t feel the holiday spirit in my heart. I feel that the holidays, have become more about wanting, receiving, should haves and should do’s.

My family has always been known as the party people. I have a super huge family with tons of aunts, uncles, cousins, and now- babies. And guess what, we’re all super close. For that I am truly grateful, because I know there are a lot of people out there that don’t have any one to share it with.  I don’t think there’s a month that goes by that we’re not getting together to celebrate something, whether it be a holiday, someone’s milestone birthday, or hell- just because!

But now, that I’m (clears throat) almost 33, the traditions that were fun and happening back in the day, just aren’t cutting it anymore. It’s become boring, mundane and sometimes annoying. Maybe it’s because I don’t have my shit together, AKA, don’t have a “corporate job” AKA “legitimate” job and I’m just here living out my passion, which 95% of people  just don’t understand. Maybe it’s cuz I don’t want to be called fat or be told that I look “tired” (which is code-word for LIKE HELL).

What if I want to stay in my pajamas the entire day and watch football on Thanksgiving, instead of trucking it to Uncle Harry’s? Why can’t I do that?

What’s so wrong with living your life the way YOU want to?

I’ve asked myself this for many years, and in all honestly, I made excuses cuz I never had the balls to own up to what I want.

So this year, I’m going on strike. I’m not doing anything I feel forced to do, I’m only doing what I WANT to do and I’m hanging with the homies I WANT to. Why spend this precious time with people who judge you and can’t understand you, when you could be starting new traditions with people who love, admire, adore and support you for YOU, not who they think you should be?

I’m super stoked, but have my armor on, cuz I know I’m going to get the daggars stares for not showing up to a family function for the first time in over 30 years, but I’m ready to own it and live up to my passion and purpose of being totally awesome (on purpose).

I wanna hear from you- how do the holidays with your family do down? Do you love it or can you leave it? What new, fun traditions have you started on your own? I’d love to hear your bad ass ideas to make the holidays a joyous time again.

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