Glendale News Press, CA
Jan 30 2009
FROM THE MARGINS:
Recovering from post-holiday rush
By PATRICK AZADIAN
Published: Last Updated Friday, January 30, 2009 10:34 PM PST
January is a difficult month for most. The hoopla of the holidays
comes to a screeching halt.
The holidays have become somewhat of a routine. The gift-buying, the
family and office celebrations do not leave room for reflection on an
individual’s state of mind. Perhaps this is what life is all about,
being with family and enjoying their affection. Yet, unless you are a
child or a teenager, the holidays are designed for the common good.
The individual and his needs take a secondary role in the big scheme.
The tools of forgetting your own life challenges are all there. There
is always plenty of food, a variety of colorful drinks, and of course
the possibility of showering others in gifts. Seeing others happy,
especially if they are children, is a great antidote to put aside the
pondering on what went right and wrong during the past year.
And before we had a chance to recuperate from the holidays, we are
faced with reality of a more regular routine. For those of us
privileged enough to be employed or have a business, January is the
beginning of yet another business calendar.
A holiday from the holidays may not be a bad idea. Just a few days or
a week where we can actually think about what we did right or wrong
during the last year. This can give us a chance to draw up more
thoughtful resolutions than the reactionary ones we come up with every
year. No more `I will lose weight, drink less and watch my spending.’
Not too many of us take the time to think about what it is that really
makes us happy. Someone really important once said: `To get what you
want, you must first know what it is that you want.’ And I am not
referring to the material things. The car, the house, the clothes and
the cash enhance happiness, but they don’t really give us that happy
feeling when we wake up in the morning or exude contentment before we
go to bed every night.
To find the key to happiness everyone needs time for thinking. And
holidays don’t seem to be the time and neither is January.
February is not much better. The month is anchored in Valentine’s
Day. If you were not watching the calendar, the day is fast
approaching and if you belong to the male segment of the human
species, haphazard planning can have grave consequences. The occasion
may be a great time to inject yourself with a small dose of the
holidays. Thus being able to ease off the holiday rush from December
slowly. But somehow it never really works that way. Some will be
content with their experience on Valentine’s Day and others will be
left to privately reflect on why they were left to spend the day by
themselves and hiding in their bedroom. There will also be those that
will feel their experience was not fulfilling enough and did not go
beyond the ordinary or the routine.
Fortunately, February is a short month and as it comes to a close,
hope is right around the corner. Spring will be awaiting us in March.
Having distinct seasons, like the East Coast, may have enhanced our
experience of a new beginning in March, but even in Southern
California where seasons are almost indistinguishable, spring is a
welcome change from what we just left behind. I am looking forward to
getting painted eggs from my mom and my sister. And perhaps I will
turn a leaf this year and attend church.
I have dilemma whenever I attend church. I like to light candles for
family and friends. There are two areas where you can do this at the
Armenian church on Central Avenue. One is all the way next to the
altar.
This keeps you very exposed as there is always a ceremony being
conducted at the church. The other one is at the back, which means you
will have your back to the altar while lighting candles. I am told
this is not against church etiquette. If I am to attend church on
Easter, I will have to get to the bottom of this contradiction before
March.
Easter and the beginning of spring are two good reasons to survive
January and February. This year there is yet another reason: the
Glendale Municipal Elections.
Even for the most optimistic individuals who think and hope that this
year will be different, there should be enough election time
maneuvering and mudslinging to keep us all entertained.
Bring it on!
– PATRICK AZADIAN is a writer and the creative director of a local
marketing and graphic design studio living in Glendale. He may be
reached at respond@fromthemargins.net.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress