Another pointless holiday avoided.

The true test will be avoiding christmas with those same people. ugh.

As usual, I will hear people say:
"But you'll miss out on the gifts."
"Chrismas is the time to be with family."
"You can't miss the celebration of the birth of christ."

blah blah blah.

If I want something bad enough, I'll go buy it.
My family has nothing to do with me unless it's a holiday, then I'm expected to participate. Screw that crap.
I don't believe in the whole christ thing, so no point in even trying that one.

I just don't enjoy being with those people. They don't know me, nor do they understand me. I tried playing along as a 'good little family person' for most of my life and all it did was make me frustrated and added more stress. I'm not like them. I don't feel the same about things as they do. We don't share the same beliefs. Because of this, they feel they must constantly try and change me. For example: I'm almost 30 and they still try to make me dress the way they think I should.

If I state my own beliefs, which happen to be different from theirs, then they think that some horrible outside person has tried to influence me and I must stop seeing/talking to that person immediately. They can't comprehend the fact that I am my own person and I am also an adult that can make choices and whatnot on my own.

If I were immature and childish like some people I know, then what I have said really wouldn't carry much weight. But I *am* an adult and have been for quite some time. I own a house, I have two cars, I pay my bills, I am raising a wonderful child, I am employed and make over $32k a year (though some people may wrinkle their noses at that), I am starting school again, I'm not a bad person, I know right from wrong, etc.

So why do they think that something is terribly wrong with me? Why am I considered the 'weird' one?

Don't they understand that by treating me this way, they have driven me away from them to avoid them at all costs? Is it that difficult to accept a person for who they are?

I really hate this time of year.

People are also freaking because I'm not attending the christmas party at work. I'm not spending money on some stupid outfit that I will wear only once. I don't like those people. I also can just go to work and not be talked to. Why would I waste my time doing something with them that I'm not getting paid for? Sheesh.