Traditions, this passing down of sentiments and customs from generation to generation can be wondrous things. There's just something reassuring about doing some of the things that our ancestors and parents did. In a world where nearly everything's disposable, or upgraded to something faster, and with more gadgets to fiddle with, we take comfort that some things remain the same. Traditions make us feel apart of something and foster a feeling of connectivity with our loved ones even when we are separated from them.

For me, Christmas isn’t Christmas until I break out my holiday music classics. At my house Nat King Cole’s ‘chestnuts roasting on an open fire’ compete with The Temptations, “I’ve Got Everything for Christmas” (but you) as holiday tunes that feed my spirit.  As I pen notes to friends whom I haven’t heard from since this time last year, drop them in the mail box so that they would be on their way the first week of Christmas, I think what each of them mean to me. Once again, I will hang the twin wreaths on the double doors that lead into my house as well as hang red bows on the front porch railings and the outdoor lamp post. Hey, it’s tradition. 

Alas, I’ll again ponder other traditions. Like will I have turkey and ham? My doctor would probably suggest turkey as my BP continues to fluctuate up and down as sadly, does my weight. And I will ponder other traditions to see if they are things I truly want to continue. Granted, I realize that I will be treading a slippery slope. I am okay with that.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the idea of traditions that we stress ourselves out to provide a perfect holiday for our families and friends. We wait in unforgiving traffic as we drive long distances, or wait in unbelievably long lines at the airport to fly long distances for three or four days, just because we’ve always done it, or because we don’t want to disappoint mom and dad. Or grandma’s claim that this might be her last holiday with her loved ones as she is getting older, guilt us into driving over the river and through the woods. If we are hosting company, many of us stress out about the holiday meal or about our homes that we start cleaning, painting and fixing up the house long before the trick-or-treaters snatch that last piece of candy. If this is you listen up:

Some opportunities can be turned down if you don’t have the time or feel up to it.  Ask for help from friends and family. And it’s really okay not to do something just because you’ve always done it.  Truly it is. We get so worked up trying to carry on the usual traditions that we end up resenting doing the same old, same old. 

In other words don’t be afraid to start new traditions. Go ahead, try new things.  More importantly, enjoy the season. Give thanks for everyday blessings, and be ever mindful of the new possibilities in the coming year.