"Santa's knockin' on my door. I wonder if I should let him in?" - Soul Saints, Santa's Got A Bag of Soul
Prompt 18: Traditions
This is the time of year when families are upholding decades old traditions and working to create new ones. It doesn't matter what you celebrate (or don't) ... please share with us your December traditions: how they got started, why you continue them, and why they are special to you.
I'm skipping ahead a bit (and suspect I will get back to the two prompts before this one) but...
Both my wife and my best friend have confessed to struggling with the holidays this year and I respect and get that. It has led to some self-reflection on my part, though.
I like the winter holidays. I'm not a religious man and don't celebrate Christmas (the traditions of my family home) because of any pious reasons. The holiday, however, does represent for me some lovely traditions that have grown over time...primarily since I've been an adult.
My family doesn't see each other all that often during the year. My sister lives in New York. My mom is often travelling. I'm busy in my own world. We are almost always, however, home for Christmas. We've gotten good at getting each other meaningful gifts that reflect what we know about each other and that simple acknowledgment that, even with our busy lives, we stay connected and work to show that connection and understanding satisfies something deep in me (probably guilt over my inability, every year, to be more family oriented but that part of my tortured soul can be up for discussion another day).
This time of year also allows me to do a lot of taking stock. A look back on the previous 12 months, invariably, fills me up with a lot of love and joy: about the incredible moments that have happened in another year of life and the important people that helped make those moments happen or matter.
And that's what I enjoy about gift giving and this formal time of doing so. It provides the spark for me to take some time from primarily thinking about myself to stop and say, "Hi. I appreciate having you in my life. Here's but a small token that I hope brings you a little happiness."
Happy Holidays.