You will meet countless people during your life, but few will ever come close to being as important to you as your family. Typically speaking, when everyone else has come and gone, your family will still be there. It is for this reason that you should invest in strengthening your relationships with family members.
One way to do this is to make family traditions that will last a lifetime. And now, with Thanksgiving just a few days away, you have the perfect opportunity to do just that.
Here are four reasons why everyone should create (or continue) family traditions:
1. Traditions help make new memories.
Always remember this: certain memories can last a lifetime. This means that the traditions we enjoy with our family today can be a source of joy and comfort in the future. Even better, we can pass these special moments on to future generations.
Some other really cool things about memories is that they create bonds between family members and strengthen our minds as we get older.
My favorite thing about the memories our traditions make, though, is how they are guaranteed to last longer than any material gift we give each other.
2. Traditions give you something to look forward to.
Every Thanksgiving I look forward to gathering around the table to see and hear those who I haven’t seen in a year. As much as I enjoy their company, I’m aware that if this type of interaction happened every week, or even every month, it would lose its luster.
Having the opportunity to be with my family every year at Thanksgiving is something I look forward to with great anticipation. These types of traditions are incredibly important events to me, so much so that I spend the good part of the fall months looking forward to our next gathering.
In a world that often feels chaotic and unsure, knowing that I will sit down next to my loved ones, break bread, and share stories brings much comfort.
3. Traditions help families grow closer.
My personal experience with traditions has shown me that they tend to bring family members closer to each other. Even though we are now more connected than ever, even Facebook posts and other forms of social media can’t match the positive impact of engaging in a tradition with those we love.
There’s an exceptionally unique bond that forms when we routinely engage in a fun or exciting activity with the same people over time. This bond alone makes traditions well worth the time and effort.
4. Traditions bridge the gap between generations.
As I mentioned earlier, traditions have the uncanny ability to bridge the gap between generations. When a grandfather is playing a game with his son and grandson, there is an amazing continuity happening there that might not otherwise occur. A unique bond is formed, the type that has the potential to last a lifetime.
Traditions bring about a number of healthy experiences that are good for individuals and families. Stories are told. Emotions are shared. Bridges are built, while walls come down. In short, nothing unites family members of different generations like tried and true traditions.
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 