Why Going Home For The Holidays May Be Overrated
For many people who live and work in cities far away from home, traveling home at the end of the year is like a Mecca event of sorts. You feel the overwhelming obligation and, sometimes, longing to be with your family during the holidays.
But going home may be overrated, if you look at it. Many people have stayed away for too long and adapted too well to life in their new cities that going home only happens if it is absolutely necessary.
Not that I hope this post will be enough to keep you from making the trip back home this season, but I'll try to highlight some of the reasons why going home for the holidays may be overrated.
Overcrowding
Depending on your kind of family, everyone is going to be around. Some siblings will return with their own family and you will have extended family over as well. The old family house will probably be bursting at the seams with all that many people around.
Seeing Old Friends You Aren't Exactly Psyched to See
One of the consequences of moving away from home is the slew of broken or stalled friendship ties that ensue. People you grew up with and who used to be cool now don't seem particularly hot to you anymore. But you can't exactly turn them away or avoid them when they show up on hearing of your arrival.
Your Old Bed Will be Uncomfortable
Returning to your old room can be a bit surreal, as the bed may not be as comfortable as you remember it. And you may have to share with other siblings or relatives due to the amount of people around at the time.
You Will Eat too Much
Well, this may not be a problem, one might say. Some people are actually looking forward to eating a lot of food over the holidays, especially if you live alone and work long hours in your city. Going home affords you a chance to splurge without bothering how the food comes or when the next meal will be. It's holiday season and there will always be food. Downside is, you will likely overdo it and get fat or sick, if care is not taken.
Awkward Goodbyes
Going home comes with the added pesky perk of having to say goodbyes to many people when the holiday ends. It gets even more awkward if there are friends and family members you didn't get to see before you had to leave again, as some might be a bit disappointed you didn't make the time to visit them. Calling to say you're heading back will be awkward and leaving without alerting them will be even more awkward and take more toll on your already weakening ties. Maybe not going home at all would spare you of such troubles, yeah?
