Thinking about traditions...
Hello friends,
Do you have a favorite tradition? A special chair for your birthday or that one dessert you always request comes to mind.
Over 40 years ago, I bought a small green Christmas elf to place in our tree. He's been showing up hidden among the branches, faithfully watching over the preparations and opening of gifts.
His presence is just a small reminder of the laughter, the love, the squeals of delight, and the anticipation about where he will decide to sit in the tree each year.
As I glanced at the Elf this week, I thought about the power of traditions. Those small rituals repeated over time anchor us to what matters to us. But they also forge the future with hope in their stability.
Traditions build a sense of belonging and draw us closer together. Our stories revolve around those traditions and reflect our collective values.
Remember Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof? He shouted for "traditions!" They kept him grounded and balanced. As the world around him shook, he sought comfort in the traditions of his life and faith.
Over time, traditions may evolve, fade away, or new ones emerge. Some, we hold onto because they hold a purpose stronger than the waves of change that might engulf us.
Many of us have suspended traditions this year. Our monthly dinners with friends have become FaceTime visits to keep in touch, smile, and toast to better days. We celebrate birthdays through Zoom visits and meet in parks for lunch.
Even when circumstances try to upend our traditions, at the heart is still that sense of belonging, friendship, and family.
I hope your traditions bring joy, remembrance, and belonging.
Inspiration worth sharing . . .
Stillness doesn't always come easily. If you need time to reflect, consider how silence is found in the waiting.
Leslie Wibberley shares many of her Scandinavian traditions and a favorite family recipe!
Listen to Tevye's Tradition!
Inspiring words . . .
"Tradition is not to preserve the ashes, but to pass on the flame."
~ Gustav Mahler
Be and become #yourbest today and every day.
With gratitude,
Kathryn
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