What’s the Point of the Half-hearted Invitation?
It’s the festive season. There’s joy and cheer everywhere. It’s not the festival that’s being celebrated as much as it becomes about gatherings. Friends and families coming together to celebrate, that is what the festivals are about, right? Right? Nope. We were taught that is what the festivals are about especially from children’s books and family movies. We were told that it is family above everything else. That they are the ones who support you and will cheer you on, and can’t wait to see you and spend time with you. But the reality is far from this. An invitation for any gathering is a prize for being popular. It is a form of validation that you matter to them enough to actually invite you. The invitation is addressed to the family. But guess what? Everyone you are staying with is not regarded as such. There are politics involved, lack of communication, and oh yes, the never-ending popularity contest. It’s almost as if in the adult world, festivals pushes our mental...