As you all know, I am one of the younger writers for Missouri state odyssey. So, my articles may differ a little from others because I'm still in the stage of growing out of childhood. This has caused a little bit of different emotions during the holidays. Hopefully this little article can help anyone who has been struggling with the same emotions I have.

So I want to say these feelings about the holidays started around halloween last year. Halloween used to be my second favorite holiday and my family would always go all out for it. My sister would throw a party and I would be able to help out with all the decorations. Last Halloween though, I didn't even care. The excitement that I usually felt had just backed off, and I was left with little happiness for this holiday. After that, other holidays kept making me feel the same way.

Christmas last year was a downer as well. I just didn't feel inclined to do anything. It felt like it just came and went and I didn't have a clue that anything had happened. I started to worry about why I felt this way, and if I would ever get over it. It wasn't until this year that I found out what was happening.

Around Halloween this year I started feeling the same way. Halloween was fine this year and actually a lot of fun, but it still didn't feel the same. Thanksgiving was just thanksgiving as usual and as soon as it was over, I felt nothing for the Christmas season. I r tried my hardest to figure out what could be going on. I looked into seasonal depression, and while that still is a huge possibility, there was something my mom said that made me think even more. That I was growing up. After I thought about it for awhile, it made more sense to me. This year I started driving and working, and I guess that has caused me to feel too "grown up" for holiday traditions. I'm hoping that sooner or later I can get that spark back, and hopefully get into the things that used to make me excited.