I am not a born-and-raised, tried-and-true Southerner. Before I moved to the South five years ago, I called Indiana home. I come from a large, rambunctious family. When I was younger, my family spent every weekend together. Whether we were having a family dinner or just going to visit, my family was at my grandparents’ house every weekend. Our family all lived within 20 minutes of each other, and we were always together. The holidays were no exception. My grandmother expected us every birthday, Easter, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Everyone arrived around nine, or so, in the morning, and no one left until nine or 10 that evening. 

As I grew up, things became complicated. When my dad found a job down South, everything changed. Gone were the usual weekends spent with family. As much as we tried to spend every holiday with our family, it became expensive, and taking presents back and forth was a hassle. Instead of living 20 minutes apart, we now lived 12 hours apart, and travel became difficult. Simple weekend visits were impossible, and important milestones were missed.

Although living 12 hours apart is inconvenient, holidays spent together mean so much more, now. Whether your family lives eight miles apart or 800, the holidays are supposed to be a time to celebrate joy, happiness, and love; they are a time to celebrate the great things in life. Seeing my family once or twice a year has given me a greater appreciation for them. As a teenager, I sometimes took my family for granted. They were too loud and crazy. As I have grown up, I have learned that they are exactly what I need. 

Near or far, they are my support system, my personal cheerleaders, and my biggest fans. Although miles may separate us, we are still a family. We have adapted to the struggles of living apart, and holidays have taken on a new meaning. The holidays have always been my favorite part of the year, but now they are even better because I understand what it means to truly appreciate the greatest thing in life: the love of a family.