When the holidays arrive, a host of memories fill my mind--memories about the good people and events during the holiday season throughout my life.
Remorse
The holidays do bring a bit of remorse for friendships and traditions lost. I can look back and see how events, attitudes, impatience and lack of foresight crushed good friendships and ended positive events. Why did that happen? In general, there were times in life when I couldn't see ahead because of life's challenges and seemingly insurmountable expectations. Now, at a much calmer time and looking back, I wish I could have been a bit more patient and understood that I could retain a friendship or traiditon in small ways during tough times rather than losing the friendship or tradition altogether. I sent a few notes to friends I lost today to let them know I was thinking of them. It's impossible to hold on to every friendship or tradition in deep ways throughout life, but it is possible to move on with positivity rather than severing those friendships or traditions altogether.
Good people and good traditions
For the most part, I've stay connected to many good people and good traditions over time. While we can't replicate our favorite childhood party at Uncle Neal's mostly due to the excessive size of our extended family, we do replicate his party at our own homes with our families--it's a great tradition of joy and happiness with good food, excahnge of gifts and lots of cheer. Also, we connect with many friends and family members we've known over the years via cards, get togethers, conversations and more. The holidays is a time to celebrate good people and good traditions.
People past
As you get older, people from the past enter your minds at the holidays. Memories of my beloved grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousin, friends and my brother Paul fill my mind. I have vivid memories of all of them that bring me a bittersweet feeling. I try to replicate the spirit and joy those memories bring in my own life.
Focus on the present
While the past creeps into holiday traditions, it's important to let the past inform the present, but not take over. We have to focus on the people in our lives today, the traditions we celebrate and making memories for the young people in our lives in positive, life enriching ways.