As the holidays approach, many of us are preparing to host friends and family and celebrate traditions that were passed to us from earlier generations.

Some of those traditions may be related to religion or be based on a social interaction, such as sending Christmas cards or the food served at holiday meals.

Too often, however, the holidays can be overrun by commercial spending and a loss of focus on the true “reason for the season.”

This year, I want to challenge you to create some new family traditions – holiday customs you can be proud to teach to the next generation, all while embracing your family legacy:

Friends are Your Chosen Family: You are surrounded by people who may not have a chance to celebrate the holidays with their own families. Perhaps they live far away or relations are strained. Whatever the case, this is your chance to reach out to neighbors, co-workers or friends who may otherwise have to spend these times alone. Invite them to share in festivities with your own family. You may be helping someone avoid what could have been a sad or lonely day.

Lend a Helping Hand: I don’t recommend this activity only for the holidays, but the gathering of family for this season can make volunteering an enjoyable group effort. Nursing homes, homeless shelters and even animal shelters greatly appreciate volunteers  to help out in various ways during this busy season. You can even help our environment by volunteering with your loved ones to clean up a local road, park or waterway.

Donate a Gift: Every year billions of dollars are spent on gifts that will be broken, forgotten or assigned to the back of the closet before the arrival of spring. I would never suggest forgoing gift giving all together; I love gifts just like the next person. However, there are gifts that can mean so much more than anything from the mall. A donation to a person’s favorite charity or done in honor of a late relative can take your gift giving to a new level.

However you choose to celebrate the holidays, remember that this time of year is your chance to create traditions that will not only enrich your own family but contribute in a powerful way to your community at large. In the midst of parties and gatherings, make an effort to truly celebrate this season of giving by doing just that -- Giving.

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Kelley Carboni-Woods is the owner of Splendid Soirees (www.splendidsoirees.com) in Charlotte. Phone: (704) 807-2613

 

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