“Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas.”
~ Peg Bracken
With Chri
stmas being this week, I wanted to take a break from the usual motivational exercise blog. Many families and friends will be coming together to share not only the love of the season, but the love of one another. Relationships – yes that’s what really matters when it’s all said and done.
Being of Italian descent, traditions have played a huge role in the way I was brought up and the way I’ve raised my own family. We’ve always had big celebrations on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – lots of food and lots of family! Back east all of our extended family was very close. My dad would haul everyone over to my aunt’s house to share Christmas Eve with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. No matter how bad the weather was, my dad would get us there and back home in plenty of time for Santa to make his early visit the next morning. What great memories I have of those childhood days!
Now that I’m a parent myself, my wife and I have our own traditions we share with our children. Every Christmas Eve, I prepare a nice fish dinner for my family. Although my children are a little older, with the youngest being 10, they still can’t wait to see what is under the tree the next morning. It’s important to me that I instill traditions in my own children and make our holiday time something they not only look forward to, but look back upon as some of the best times of their lives.
As the economy has forced most people to tighten their belts, I believe this year will uncover just how important the love of family and friends really is. It won’t be what’s under the tree that matters so much, but rather what’s in the heart. No matter what your family traditions or beliefs, I encourage you to take the time this holiday season to let those you care about know just how much they mean to you. You never know when you’ll have another chance.
May the Christmas of 2009 be one of your happiest memories ever!
