Holidays Aren't The Same When You Exchange Your Life For Fame

Today marks the day of preparation for many families who will fellowship on tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Today there will be plenty of cooking over conversation and cocktails. Perhaps this is going to be the highlight of the day for millions of families across America, including mine. In my past I've generally brought my grateful attitude along side my hearty appetite, on the day before and the day of Thanksgiving, but this year it's going to be different. This year I find it necessary to tarry a little longer with loved ones because I won't share in such an occasion among them in 2011.

I woke up this morning feeling like holidays aren't the same when you exchange your life for fame. Fame in what sense you may be thinking? For me personally, it means to publicly open my life up for observation of my character during service abroad, and to be critiqued microscopically by my U.S. counterparts (family, friends, or acquaintances) and even those parties in the foreign land in which I'll travel. I will also forgo so many things that I'm used to doing, having, experiencing, seeing, and being a part of. One of those very things are U.S. Holidays, especially Thanksgiving. This year they just will not be the same because I think to myself that I've never missed one, so this year I must find it in me to love beyond the midnight oil and soak up the laughs so that I can replay them along my journey because next year I'll miss one. I ask myself daily is it going to be worth it? I smile, connect with my heart to the bigger picture, and then I re-commit. #again&again&again