What Christmas Means to Me - Traditions

What Christmas Means to Me: Holiday Traditions part II of V

***
Christmas is rich with traditions. Christmas is sending Christmas cards, baking Christmas cookies, singing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and kissing under the mistletoe, just to name a few. When it comes to holiday traditions, there is none other than Christmas. According to Webster’s Dictionary, tradition is "an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior." Because traditions are inherited they form a strong familial and cultural bond. Because of the significance of our Christmas traditions, we eagerly await the arrival of Christmas, so we may carry on with our traditions.

You’ve heard of traditional holiday favorites. Like Bing Crosby’s White Christmas or the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life. Traditional favorites are those traditions that have not only endured the test of time, but are considered the very best of among all the traditions. I never tire of hearing Bing Crosby sing, "I’m dreaming of a white Christmas," or hear Clarence say, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings," However; there are some traditions that must come to end. They’ve outlived their usefulness or value. They’ve drawn down on our resources, with little, if any, payoff. Bear in mind that some of our traditions may actually produce negative outcomes; excessive stress, emotional discomfort and family discord. Traditions that promote negative outcomes must go.

This Christmas, I ask you to take a good look at your what behaviors your routinely engage in. Christmas is a time of reflection; as well as a time of hope. So as you reflect upon your life, ask yourself what traditional behaviors (habits) have you practiced that are leading to peace of mind, good health, and achievement? What traditional behaviors (habits) are holding you back? Are you continuing with traditional behaviors (habits) that are bad for you, only because it’s more comforting to continue with them than to cope with changing them? If you’ve tried to break traditional behaviors that you know are bad for you and you’ve been unsuccessful, remember the words of Mary Pickford, "This thing that we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."

Christmas is a time of hope. Winning the battle over a habit is not easy, but the rewards are well worth the price. Don't wait until it’s too late. Often times, we wait until there is trauma or desperation in order to act. This Christmas it’s time to break tradition. Choose a habit that you're willing to break; start with something small. Make a commitment to change and begin creating a new behavior that will produce positive results.

Christmas is a time for traditions. It’s a time enjoy those things that our families have passed down to us, and a time for us to enjoy the traditions of our nation. Christmas is a time for us to decide which traditions are to be honored and which traditions must come to end. The lifespan of a tradition is determined by the value it brings. Every Christmas, I look forward to traditions that bring me closer to God, my family and friends! To me, these are the traditions that will endure a lifetime.

And that’s what Christmas means to me!

***
Its your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!