Taking stock of the festive season

Tunohole Mungoba
Octavia Tsibes

I am not one that gets overexcited about the festive season, but last year seemed to be different.

The year 2018 was a challenging, yet joyous, in the same breath. I have experienced a few disappointments, but also a number of triumphs worth celebrating.

In the 12 months of 2018, I have seen how quickly situations can change and how people’s feelings change as well.

For one, I have learned that people can take advantage of you once you show them how reliable and kind-hearted you can be. I experienced this first-hand after reading about and listening to people’s experiences. It is not the best of feelings, but I am glad I have experienced it. It has made me wiser and I would not say I have “learned my lesson”, but I am more aware of the different kinds of people you get to meet in life.

Another reason why I was excited about the festive season, was the opportunity to finally relax and unwind with my loved ones. The past two years pretty much evolved around the serious things of life. I did not go out as much, and when I did go out, I tried to be as antisocial as possible. However, during the past festive season, I aimed to change that and I tried to be more open to invites from friends as well. The thing is, one is tired the following day and that is what honestly demotivates me from going out.

I tried my best to be as social as possible, but I had days where I just wanted to be alone and not mingle with anyone.

The same way we were excited about the warm days and long nights, we should also be vigilant and take care of each other. Make sure that before and after you have a good time, you take care of yourself and take the necessary safety precautions. These safety precautions should be take care of you mentally and physically.

The mental safety precautions include not comparing yourself to anyone during the festive season and beyond. You are you and you should always embrace that. It is during the festive season that insecurities are heightened and you become more aware of what you are lacking and not packing. This should not be the case for future holidays, and always keep in mind that you have your own life to figure out, and you should not be worry about little things such as looks. Another mental safety precaution I took this past festive season was being aware of the games the opposite (or same sex) can play. Relationships are mostly casual during the festive period and you should be attentive not give 100%, while someone else only gives 50%. This is not to say that you should not consider people’s feelings at all, but try your best not to give your heart to someone, especially when you do not know their intentions.

Also, try your best not to lose focus in terms of the bigger picture. It is easy to get caught up in the hype and not remember that you have bills to pay and much more important things to focus on, rather just mingling with friends. You still have your life to live, but do not forget to take care of the bigger and better things in life, such as job and business opportunities, and your priorities such as getting your licence or ticking off your remaining resolutions.

Now for the physical safety precautions. In December, we commemorated World Aids Day and it is never too exhaustive to inform young people about the importance of knowing their HIV status. Be on the lookout for this and always make sure you play it safe; not only in December, but all day, every day!

octavia@myzone.com.na