This Christmas I will not be home. Since I currently live on the other side of the world I thought it might be a good opportunity to do something a bit different for the holidays. It's Christmas Eve and I currently sit in the lobby of my hostel in Edinburgh, Scotland where I am spending Christmas. I just spent a week in Ireland (actually with Sarah) and will venture onto London in a few days for New Years before returning to sunny Abu Dhabi.
I love Christmas time and I am loving my choice in location for the holidays (Abu Dhabi is not very Christmasy feeling). Although it wasn't until today could I begin to explain why I love both these things. While I was out walking through little shops I saw a card that read "When you stop believing in Santa you get underwear." It made me laugh....but it also reminded me of a quote I recently repinned on Pinterest (I freaking love Pinterest). It simply stated this:
"Even though she was a grown woman she believed in elves & Santa Claus & flying reindeer & sacks with an endless capacity for toys. Furthermore she believed that believing in these things was the chief reason she had more fun in life than others."
It became the backdrop on my computer.
It's the truth, right? Is it more fun to believe in whimsical and fantastical things or be a "realist?" Yesterday I sat at the cafe JK Rowling began writing the Harry Potter series. From the window I could see the castle and the school that inspired Hogwarts. I also wandered around a grave yard trying to find Tom Riddle's grave (which I couldn't find...but might go back to try again). I love the idea that one of my favorite stories had been inspired by this beautiful and fascinating city. Also on Thursday I am traveling north for the day with plans to look for the Lochness Monester. On Friday I will get into Kings Cross Station in London and plan to find platform 9 3/4. And thanks to Doctor Who I find myself staring at every angel statue I come across simply out of fear.
What does this have to do with belief? I am sure people without the belief in things nerdy and whimsical enjoy traveling to these places...just not as much. And as someone who loves history I am finding there is lots to be learned here. But even history requires a certain amount of belief...and what is history if not a series of stories...both real and made up.
So really if nothing else, believing makes the world a bit more interesting and much more fun.
Tomorrow morning I will not wake up to Christmas presents (I already got an awesome box of presents before I left Abu Dhabi from my family which included an iPad mini - and no underwear!). And Christmas will feel a bit strange without being surrounded by friends and family this year. But this will not deter my belief in Santa Claus or the holiday spirit. If anything it will allow me to broaden by beliefs, because as I walk through these streets of Scotland it still feels like Christmas (and not just in a consumer way). So while Santa journeys acoss the world tonight... I know he did not skip me...but instead gave me the opportunity to see Christmas a little bit differently this year in a pretty awesome place.
Coming Soon: Sarah recounts details of her recent elf tracking mission. Spoiler: she didn't make it to Santa's workshop, but feels she is close and will continue her efforts soon.
