“There’s no place like home for the holidays.” This is a phrase that has been expertly hammered into the collective psyche of every person since the 1950’s who, at one point or another, has been subjected to the seemingly endless stream of early November Christmas music. It’s not as if Perry Como, the very musician to thank for this holiday classic, was wrong in his sentiment about home being the place to be for the holidays. After all, isn’t that what this time of year is about? Spending time with loved ones over good conversation and a table full of autumnal delicacies. Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, it’s an image that strikes to the heart of just about anyone.
Despite the holidays being a time of merriment and appreciation for your fellow neighbor, you just can’t deny how much the hustle and bustle of everyday life gets in the way of enjoying time with your loved ones. Work and school have a tendency of being shoehorned into this season, constant reminders that your time is something to consider, especially when holidays like Thanksgiving have only a smattering of days off, and that’s only counting those who are in school. With the congestion of people rushing to get home to fulfill the picture-perfect portrait of the holiday and the ever-increasing cost of travelling, whether that be through air or road, it certainly begs the sometimes-uncomfortable question; is it even worth it to go home for Thanksgiving?
In all fairness, it simply depends on your living situation. Some have the fortune to be living near their loved ones, which makes the occasional weekend trip much less of a hassle for them than for someone whose family lives across the country. Travel cost and time, regardless of the method, are something many have to take into account when making these trips back home. While it is worth it for the month or so off, since many students celebrate several holidays in late November and throughout December, it’s often much too stressful to travel just for the weekend.
For those who have complicated family situations, going home or even the inability to go home also brings with it another layer of stressors and difficulties, and the constant commercialized reminders of Rockwell-esque families sitting harmoniously around a big table full of food can make many uncomfortable at best. In some cases, these often-unrealistic expectations may add more pressure to bear the masses of people travelling and buying, which could end in a potentially taxing holiday for all involved.
Instead, regardless of your familial situation, take this time of year to reconnect with the home around you, the home you have built for yourself whether that means through your coworkers, a tight nit group of friends, newfound budding relationships, or yourself. Because perhaps home isn’t only a fixed place you can find on a map or the family you are directly related to, perhaps it’s also the people who have become your chosen family, and the swampy, muggy place that you reside in for the majority of the year. When that’s the case, there would be no place like it for the holidays.
