Celebrate your VALUES! We just enjoyed Canadian Thanksgiving with 40 friends that get together annually at our home. This tradition came out of our value of family and our value for our heritage. Close to 40 years ago, we decided to plan an EVENT so our girls would know where we came from and would meet other Canadians who have moved to Southern California. We all enjoyed the turkey dinner and the time together so decided to make this an annual event – a RITUAL. When our daughters went to University they knew they could invite Canadian students and Professors to our home in October for this Thanksgiving dinner. This year, as the adults stood in a circle with 16 children in the center, we sang O Canada and The Doxology and shared our gratitude. We have a solid TRADITION that we will continue to celebrate! Continue to celebrate your values as you build traditions. If you do not have traditions, start building memories with your family, one at a time.
How to Build Memories
- Values – Celebrate your values
- Events – Plan an event with the people you love
- Rituals – Repeat your event
- Traditions – Continue the celebration with the next generation
Using All Five Senses To Create Memories
Do you want your children to be connected to you? The physical cord of dependency was cut at birth, but you want the emotional cord to continue. What is the glue that effectively connects your child to you? Familiar sights, tastes, and scents build memories and strong connections. When we have asked teenagers what connected them to their family, they never mentioned the square footage of their house or the kind of car they drove. They talk about the family meals, having traditions, playing games etc. Put the true connectors into your holiday time with your family using:
- food
- decorations
- celebrations with family and friends
- memorabilia
- photos
Celebrate your values with what you enjoy repeating!