"I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future." -Ebenezer Scrooge

Dad, are you okay back there? The high-pitched lispy voice of a six or seven-year-old boy asked from the aisle in front of me. He was watching Finding Nemo and was at that part where Nemo strays farther out into the ocean than his father would approve. I'm great honey the man next to me responded as he and I exchanged smiles.

Frequent flyers in the audience will understand what I mean when I say that traveling during the holiday season is completely different from traveling during the first 10 months of the year. Most of the year, flight gates serve as conference rooms. Professionals sport their business best, their cell phones practically glued to their ears. Business calls continue up until the moment when all electronic devices must be powered down. Students tap away at their laptops attempting to complete as much work as possible before arriving home.

But in the holiday time? People are dressed down a bit. And, just like the man sitting next to me, they're traveling with their families. Security officials take the time to wish you a happy season as you scramble to put back on your shoes and belt (oh how I love metal detectors).

It was in traveling home this past week that I decided that Thanksgiving (U.S.) really is my favorite holiday, and not only for the three F's (Friends, Family, and Food, not the biological F's). Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because I like to anticipate. To look forward. By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, it's time to start looking forward to Christmas (the commercial one). Radio stations play non-stop Christmas music, Starbucks introduces the infamous Red cup (not SOLO), decorated trees and wreathes make their presence known in public spaces, and residential homes boast lights and winter scenes. Christmas is a season, not a day.

The pervasiveness of smiles, tangible joy, and visible generosity during this time of year tells me that I am not alone in my reveling in the anticipation.

Over my Thanksgiving break, I read Garth Stein's The Art of Racing in the Rain, a poignant novel (i.e. it made me laugh; it made me cry) told from the point of view of a dog. As a dog owner, I can say with some certainty that dogs are more observant, perceptive, and caring than most humans. At one point in the novel, Enzo the dog explains, "I felt strangely anxious that day, in a very human way. People are always worried about what's happening next. They often find it difficult to stand still, to occupy the now without worrying about the future. People are not generally satisfied with what they have they are very concerned with what they are going to have."

Far be it from me to argue with a dog, but I am unsure how I feel about this statement. To some extent, of course it's true. We're always on-the-go, sometimes so ahead of ourselves that we forget what is real and what is not, what is the past and what is the present (I'm reminded of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come).

At the same time, the "anxiety" might just be misinterpreted anticipation. I find that looking forward is the only way to overcome the minor stresses and difficulties I encounter in my day-to-day life. Thoughts like, "Next week at this time, I'll be done with..." are not at all foreign to me. It's not that I don't appreciate the present or stop to smell the coffee (after all, I'm a coffee addict) every once in a while, but in my mind, it is downright self-destructive to sit and remind yourself of the present when it is chock-full of worry and stress.

Maybe we don't need to constantly worry about the future, but there's no harm in eagerly anticipating the future. After all, Christmas without the month-long build up of holiday tunes or seasonal pastries and beverages would be just another day (to commercial celebrators like myself, at least).

There are times in our lives when it's almost impossible to "sit still for hours on end with no effort,"a dog-quality Enzo gloats about. At those times, it's in our best interest to channel Nemo and well, just keep swimming.