The happiest people I know are people willing to adjust, adapt, and embrace change. Much of the change we face in life isn’t change we choose, rather it’s thrust upon us by nature or by other people’s life situation or choices. If you read my articles, you know many of them mention my mom, this one is no exception. My mom exemplifies this attitude toward change. With every job change, move, children’s’ life stages, holiday change, aging, health crises, she pivots to the positive, and adjust to the new normal.
Growing up we spent our Christmases at my Grandparents’ farm. The best memories. We spent Christmas Eve night at my aunt’s house, who lived a mile down the gravel road from my Grandparents. The kids played, and the adults played cards while laughing and eating my uncle’s famous divinity candy. The celebration changed when we moved away, my grandparents passed away, and then each of the grandkids got married, pulling us away on odd years to be with in-laws. When each new in-law joined our family, my mom celebrated, and happily adjusted schedules and worked to incorporate some of the in-law’s family traditions into ours to ensure when they were with us, they felt a sense of home. This changed the holiday celebrations we knew. My mom’s attitude about the change set the tone. Change was fun, good, and inevitable.
As people change, families change. It is never more apparent than at the holidays. Perhaps this year you got married, had a baby, adding more people to your celebration. Or maybe your celebration has changed because you had a child get married or move away and they won’t be present to celebrate. Perhaps you lost a loved one through death or dementia who played a pivotal role in your holiday celebration.
This year brings more change for our family, the grandkids getting married one by one, and scattering across the US, and we now anxiously await the baby who will begin the next generation. My parents are also getting older and beginning to shift the honor of hosting to others. While many of the same traditions will endure, some will end, and new ones will begin. Holidays will again look different.
As my children get older, leave for college, someday find a spouse, and pursue their purpose. I pray I embrace change as have my parents; leaving me with the kind of relationships my parents have with their adult children, grandchildren, and in-laws, bonds built by selfless love and guilt-free freedom.
May your holidays be filled with joy, contentment, and embraced change.
