Traditions

We have a lot of Christmas traditions in the Wheeler family, most of which my wife and I brought to our family from our childhoods.  For example, we always open up Christmas presents on Christmas morning, rather than Christmas Eve - with one notable exception.  We always let our kids open up one present on Christmas Eve, and it's always the same thing every year - a brand new set of pajamas to wear on Christmas night.  Christmas Eve day always starts with a big breakfast - usually waffles or pancakes (this year it was waffles).  We dress up and go to Christmas Eve mass either before or after dinner (the time now usually depends on what time all of the kids get home).  We always drop off a couple of plates of homemade Christmas cookies at the hospital on the way back home from dinner, usually with the staff working in the PICU or Cardiac ICU, since that is where I have spent most of my professional career.  I always read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" before the kids go to bed.  We have another big breakfast on Christmas morning - after opening up presents.  And then it's "over the river and through the woods" to Grandmother's house!

I suspect that our children will carry over many of these traditions if and when they become parents with their own children.  The beautiful thing about traditions is just that - they come from the past and uniquely tie us to our past.  The same is true for many organizations.  Traditions that have become part of the organizational culture are the bridge between the past, the present, and the future. 

Respect your traditions.  Tomorrow is Christmas.  I wish you all peace and prosperity as we close out 2017 and start a new year.  There is an old Irish Christmas blessing that I will close with:

“May the Blessings of Christmas be with you,

May the Christ Child light your way,

May God’s holy angels guide you,

And keep you safe each day.”