Happy Holidays!  The holiday celebrations might look different this year, but it’s still a time to celebrate, cherish our family and friends, help others in need and reflect on our blessings.

You may not be able to practice some of your typical traditions, so I encourage you to create new ones and find things that bring joy to you and others!

Here are a few old and new traditions that I’ll be celebrating – feel free to steal shamelessly!

• Family Donation: My family chose to end our gift exchange with the family’s adult members and instead donate the money we would have spent on gifts to a charity. Each year we rotate who gets to choose the charity.  This year we’ll be supporting The Help Foundation.  I recently joined the Board of Directors for this organization that empowers individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, day support, vocational, and summer education programs to choose services and opportunities as respected and valued community members.  If you want to join us in our tradition, here’s a link where you can donate.
• Leveling Up Our Holiday Lights: This year, the women’s club in my neighborhood is sponsoring a holiday lights competition. We wanted to create a fun activity for families to decorate together and tour the neighborhood to enjoy the lights since we could not host our annual holiday party.  The winners will receive a gift card and donation to their favorite charity.  My husband and I are creating a “Santa’s Lake House” theme complete with a fishing Santa, water skiing elf, snowman falling off an innertube, and Rudolf driving a boat.  Wish us luck!
• Virtual Dinner and White Elephant Gift Exchange: Since we couldn’t get together in person at a restaurant, my group of friends is ordering dinner to support our favorite restaurant and dining together in Google Meet. We’re also using an online tool to upload photos of our wrapped white elephant gifts and will be hand delivering the gifts to each other’s doorsteps the following day.

We all have an opportunity to choose our perspective as we navigate the holidays through these challenging times.  I choose joy and optimism.  What choice are you making?

Wishing you the best!

Amy