I love celebrating the holidays with family and friends. I have fond memories of trimming the tree, attending midnight mass, and enjoying all sorts of Italian foods with those I love. I have passed these traditions on and I have also shared the recipes for lasagna, manicotti, and Italian tea cookies with younger members of the family.
How about you? What special memories do you cherish? What keepsakes, pictures, traditions, and recipes have you passed on to other family members?
This time of year, it is easy to get caught up in the busyness of celebrating the holidays. The to-do list and the must-have list compete for your time and attention, leaving you feeling frazzled, frustrated, or maybe even resentful. After all, why must you make the family heirloom fruitcake that has been served every year for decades if no one has eaten it in your lifetime? Perhaps it is time to give framed copies of the recipe and its history to the next generation instead of baking your way to unhappiness.
I encourage you to make deliberate choices that match your values, both in this season and throughout the year. Celebrating the holidays doing what truly matters to you can make this time of year much more joyous. If you eliminate what no longer has value for you, you also have time to relax and to enjoy the company of family and friends.
Values-based decision-making enables you to repeatedly make consistent decisions based on, you guessed it, your values. You can read more about how to use values-based decision making here.
Take some time now to reflect on what you cherish about your family and friends, the holidays, and your family traditions. How can you be more intentional about incorporating more of what you treasure into these months? What do you want or need to let go of?
May you find purpose and meaning in your life. Then, as you celebrate the holidays, make the most of every opportunity to live your values in a way that honors what you cherish most.
I hope you and those you care most about have much to celebrate!