Holiday Traditions- Part I

Before we start to talk about new traditions that you might want to try this year, lets look at what the meaning of a tradition really is. Everywhere you look you see the word “tradition”.  There are traditional houses that are filled with wooden pieces of furniture that have elegant details. There are traditional pieces of clothing that have a number of styles, shapes, fabrics, and colors. There are traditional recipes for almost everything that you can imagine from thanksgiving meals to chocolate chip cookies. And there are even traditional stores. With all this talk about tradition, do you really know what the word means? By dictionary definition a tradition is the handing doqn of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information and more from generation to generation by word of mouth or by practice.

As the holidays are fast approaching, it’s sometimes easier than not to get caught up in the feasting, shopping, gifting, traveling, wrapping, running, parties, ect…  That being said, of course it’s nothing new.  It’s just that time of year again and part of the holiday’s right?  That is the tradition after all!  But this year can and is different whether we want to admit it or not. Between the unemployment rate and the economy, it’s time to take a step back and reevaluate those things we deem important and as tradition.  If we open our eyes and our hearts and take a look around our neighborhoods, workplace and schools, we will see the truth, although unpleasant as it may be.  Our friends, colleagues and neighbors are in trouble. Educated friends and family are unemployed; healthcare that is necessary cannot be attained because of the cost.  Divorce rates continue to soar due in part to the financial stresses, leading to angry and confused children wondering if they played a part in their now broken homes and in return reflecting in the schools, via grades and or behavior.  We need to realize the wisdom in the fact that “Catching up is so much more important than keeping up!” Be the change you want to see in the world!  It’s okay to celebrate with friends and family this holiday season, but how about addressing your invitations this year to read, “Your presence is your present.”