I’m a New Year’s kind of guy! I love fresh starts. The chance to dust myself off as necessary and begin anew, anticipating better than what I’m currently experiencing.
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I have to admit though—there’s nothing magical about January 1. Any day and every day is a good day to make improvements—to change what isn’t working and begin new habits.
But there is something about the New Year that causes all of us to think a bit deeper about where we’re at and where we want to be.
There’s a good chance at this time of year that you’re thinking about making changes for better health. That includes better eating. You’ve heard you should be eating more whole foods and the more plant-strong the better. But the thought of learning new recipes may be intimidating and keeping you from making any progress.
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Healthier eating doesn’t have to be complicated, time-consuming, or expensive. I’ve written how it can be simple—really simple. Gail and I do more food combining than recipes. Yet many continue to ask for recipes to get started. So we’re happy to share our favorites.
While I loved having dinner as a family and taking that time to gather and build relationships, I was often hit with the challenge of how to handle the child who did not care for what I fixed for dinner. With seven in our family, it was rare to be able to hit everyone’s favorites all in the same meal.
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You can try begging, pleading, demanding, but you are still going to wind up with some situations where the peace at the family dinner table is shattered.
What’s a mom to do?
Years ago I established the habit of doing a big picture review of major areas of my life at the beginning of the new year. Before jumping into setting goals, it’s good to take some time to reflect on the past year. Celebrate the wins. Learn from the missteps. Then set your sights on making improvements in areas that will matter most. Expect the best—prepare for the worst.
If you don’t have such process, here is my list of ten action steps for the New Year for your consideration.
I had the privilege recently of attending what I consider the one of the most amazing wedding ceremonies that I have ever seen.
Courtesy 123RF/Stephen McCluskey
It was not because of the decorations, the uniqueness of the ceremony, or the excitement of the bride and groom. It was not because the budget for this event was extravagant. This ceremony was definitely the quickest and simplest I have ever seen.
For most, the Thanksgiving and Christmas season is a wonderful time of the year. Family gatherings. Parties. Traditions. Staying up late with friends. Relaxing mornings with family. Gratifying acts of kindness and service. Spectacular extravaganzas and moving church services.
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But there is also a dark underbelly for many this time of year. For those who have lost loved ones, their absence seems magnified during the holidays. What should be a time of celebration becomes an unusually sad and sometimes dark season.
If that’s you, I know how you feel. I mean it—I really know how you feel.
Christmas is such a special time of year. And what better way of making it even more exciting than to intentionally plan some regular activities that your children look forward to every year.
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Most families are accustomed to decorating the tree, making Christmas cookies, being involved in some type of Christmas program, doing an advent calendar or countdown chain, and having certain traditions for gift opening.
How would your kids react this Christmas if they emptied their Christmas stocking and found an apple, an orange, and handful of peanuts in the shell, and a shiny penny? I suspect you’d get a “what the…?!” face. Maybe some tears.
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On the contrary, in our family those items are the capstone to whatever else may be in the stocking. And if ever absent (which they’ve never been), it would be more than disappointment—it would be a severe violation of family protocol.
Every great, noble value is best learned at home. As parents, part of our responsibility is to seize opportunities to not just teach but model these values to our kids.
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Generosity isn’t restricted to Christmas time—but I don’t think there is another season of the year that has more potential for families to practice it in so many ways.
Family gatherings over the holidays are something most look forward to. But they also come with potential conflict between parents and married kids. Unsolicited advice—no matter how well-intentioned, overstepping by doing things your way, etc.
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This is actually on ongoing risk, not just during the holidays, and one each family needs to learn how to navigate.
