Traditions of the season

I love this time of year. Traditions, generosity, and family time all wrapped into one season makes me happy. The variety of opportunities for connections that show up are heartwarming. AND the evolution of some of our traditions do the same thing. It used to be there was Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday only. People would get up from the family table stuffed to the gills and head into stores for consumerism nightmares or bliss, depending on perspective.

Those traditions have grown and now we have Small Business Saturday. This is where we can invest some of our holiday spending in the mom and pop local shops that are woven into the fabric of our neighborhoods and communities. After the devastation to those establishments from the lockdowns of the past few years, that is a lifeline to some of those business.

Following that we have Cyber Monday. Oh the joys of shopping from our living room, or bedroom, or office in any manner of dress or time. We definitely can get great deals without leaving the comfort of our home. In turn, that leaves more time for being present during the month with our loved ones. The gift of time this provides really can be a game changer.

And my favorite has come along in recent years, which is Giving Tuesday. Generosity of the season flowing to organizations that align with our hearts and souls is a worthy addition to the traditions. I hope that you have taken this opportunity to give some of your time, talent, and treasure. As we kick off the season, may we all expand our view and our imaginations beyond just lights, music, food, and shopping. May we bring our awareness and attention to other types of giving. You know … giving a helping hand … giving a warm smile … giving a needed apology … giving an even more needed hug of forgiveness … giving a word of encouragement … giving someone some selfless time and attention. I hope you have given a bit of yourself to the precious souls in your field of influence. Keep giving … and be blessed!