Lunar New Year begins with haircuts, red envelopes and extravagant dinners with all the people who share even a drop of blood with me.
In the past, I used to go through Lunar New Year confused and annoyed at having a formal dinner with people I saw nearly every day. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to recognize the importance of rekindling my relationships with my family and honoring what I’ve grown up with.
I love eating Chinese desserts and chatting with my grandparents about their pasts. I love receiving red envelopes, not because of what’s inside, but because I know the genuine care my relatives have for me.
In the past, my loved ones were always nearby, but as the years have gone on, and I’ve grown up, I’ve watched my brother go off to college and my great-grandparents pass on. As I plan for my future, I also feel all the support that my family does not hesitate to offer.
Whether it be driving me to interviews, meals, or just a cheery face to see, they are always willing to go out of their way to help me. They constantly convey how proud they are of me and the firm conviction that I will do well. Although this used to fill me with fear of their expectation, it now provides me with a base that I know I can fall on and encourages me to pursue my passions.
No matter what, I know that my family will be there to be the ones to help me find a solution to the most seemingly impossible problems on the worst days. When I think of the undeniable truth that my family members will eventually leave me alone, I can’t help but want to spend as much time as I can with them. Thus, I now welcome the few days a year that guarantee seeing or talking to them.
The truth is, my family is probably one of the more non-traditional families. We don’t choose specific foods for special meaning or perform rituals to bless the food. Instead, we focus on the love we share and building on these relationships. It doesn’t matter what holiday; the fact that is most important is that we celebrate it together. It gives us a reason to get together, and if we can’t, we make sure to put in a phone call.
Instead of getting distracted by extravagant holidays, choose to really appreciate what a great constant family is.