Family. It is the basis on which I will construct my life.
Growing raised in a loving and supportive home, I now aim to instill the same values in my sons.
Add a little chaos and that describes our trinity.
But within that trinity, there is a hidden magic.
Our bond is strengthened by traditions, rituals, and shared memories.
Before I began writing this monthly prompt, I first asked myself what exactly are traditions and rituals.
For me, traditions are recurring customs that are often tied to holidays or seasons and have special meaning for me and my boys.
An example is making chocolate mousse for Christmas dinner.
This is a perfect illustration of a tradition passed down through the years.
Contrarily, rituals are little, more frequent actions that provide the impression of familiarity and constancy.
Like the French fries and snacks that are on the menu every Friday.
For us, a sign that the weekend has begun.
Or the little story I told my kids every night before bed.
Okay, that story is long gone but saying goodnight when you go to sleep is done by everyone every night.
The beauty of these seemingly ordinary traditions and rituals lies in the power that they connect us.
They create in me a sense of connection with my children, my parents, and my brother and family.
It reminds me that we are part of something bigger than ourselves.
Sharing a traditional meal during birthdays evokes memories of past gatherings, and laughter echoing around the table.
An annual vacation trip becomes a touchstone, a time to reconnect with what matters, with each other.
These experiences become threads in the fabric of our family history, a story passed down from generation to generation.
But traditions and rituals are not just about nostalgia.
They also play a crucial role in shaping our values and identity.
So with my family, I try to not only create memories, but also learn about cultural heritage, transmit values and norms, and not just focus on taking and receiving.
The importance of compassion and giving back, by taking an annual donation to the clothing bank with my children.
Donating food to those less fortunate or simply giving my help to those in need.
These practices become a way of transmitting basic family beliefs and habits from one generation to the next.
And the best part? Traditions and rituals do not have a universal application.
They are as unique and diverse as your families themselves.
We are a family of real games and seize every holiday to have a marathon of board games.
Another family might do a talent show where everyone gets a chance to showcase their musical talents.
Believe me, our family doesn't want to hear you sing.
But the important thing is to find activities that appeal to everyone and create a sense of shared joy.
And usually, these arise naturally or you take over from your parents.
Of course, traditions and rituals must evolve.
As families grow and change, so must how they interact.
A tradition of elaborate Easter egg hunts has given way to an egg-tapping contest with us now that my children are getting too old for this.
Since my brother and I no longer live together under one roof, the two of us have started a new ritual of having a brother/sister moment from time to time.
And it has become a tradition to go to the movies together.
There is no fixed time for this but we both make sure that this is kept in honor.
The main thing is to be adaptable and open to building new traditions alongside the existing ones.
In our fast-paced, always-changing world, family traditions and rituals give us stability and safety.
They provide a safe space where we can come together to remember important events in our lives and make lasting connections with the people we care about.
So take time this year to reflect on these traditions and rituals of your family, relatives. But of course also with friends.
Above all, stick to the traditions and rituals that give you joy and try to breathe new life into old ones.
Take a step to create new ones. After all, these are the moments, large and little, that bind us and make us what we are.
One more entry for the Mayinleo prompt!
Today's prompt for the Inleo writing challenge is all about family traditions and anual rituals. (May 27th)
I've submitted my interpretation on this topic, and I'd love for you to join the fun!
There are exciting prompts and activities throughout the month using this link:
https://inleo.io/@leogrowth/may-inleo-monthly-prompts
📷 Photos: Owned and shot by me with an iPhone 14
📷 Thumbnail, banners & dividers: Created with Canva Pro
Posted Using InLeo Alpha
