Holiday traditions are important. They help people feel balanced when they are consistent.

Traditions are about bringing families and friends together, and giving thanks for what you have: the food you have, the home you live in, the clothes you own, and the people who have made it possible for you to have all of those things.

Holiday traditions are important to me because that is one of the only times of year that I get to see all of my mom’s side of the family. My dad’s side of the family is scattered over the East coast, so we see them over the summer.

However, your traditions cannot always turn out exactly in the way that you envisioned.

You could have something cooked incorrectly, or someone could have forgotten to pick something up. I have not had to personally deal with friends or family members moving away; however, others continuously have to suffer through this.

Even worse than an incorrectly cooked meal or a lengthy wait time for a pick up, someone in the family could be sick. Over the past few years, my family has learned how to deal with the loss of a loved one.

My family’s holiday traditions have not been as normal the past few years as they usually are. In August of 2011, both of my grandmothers were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

We tried to do Chemotherapy for them, but neither of them were physically strong enough to handle the therapy.

I will always remember that neither of them would want me to dwell on their deaths, so I know that I will have to just handle it, and that I cannot live my life in the past.

Even though my traditions will never be the same again, my family and I know that we can still celebrate the holidays and remember that our lost loved ones will always be with us.

All I really have to say is that you should cherish the things you have before they are gone. I hear people complaining about their grandparents wanting something from them or some other trivial problem. At least you have grandparents.

I would do anything to have mine back in my life.