Everybody has their own traditions…but have you ever stopped and wondered why you do certain things? Maybe it’s sending cards out at Christmas, maybe it’s making handmade Valentine’s, or for some it’s filling up your child’s Easter basket the morning of with some extra special sussies. These are all wonderful things IF they bring you joy. So often people go along with certain rituals simply because they feel obligated to do them. Although you might be doing it to show someone you care, if your heart is not really in it, will it really pass on that much joy?
I remember picking my son up from school this time last year (such a foreign concept now…ha!) and another mom asking me if I fill a basket with goodies the morning of Easter. She explained she had just recently learned that this was a thing. However, she then went on to share how magical her Easters were growing up and how special her parents made her and her siblings feel despite these extra goodies.
I told her how that’s what REALLY matters! It’s the memories we make with our loved ones that will be remembered more than the actual goodies. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a fun Easter basket and do typically put one together, but that’s because it gives me joy remembering all the thought my own mom put into our baskets growing up. They were never super fancy, but it gave her joy putting them together and I have that same excitement putting my son’s together.
Any task can fall into one of two categories: a life giver or a life suck. All that I’m saying is don’t compare your life to someone else’s and toil over something like Christmas cards if you feel like a slave addressing + putting stamps on. If money is a little tighter this year and you can’t do Easter baskets, do a new, creative activity with your child in lieu of opening baskets…your child will love that extra time with you just as much :)
So today, think through your own traditions and rituals. What is life giving and what is a life suck? Focus your time more on the things that give you joy, which will allow you to pour more out to those around you!
And if you are doing baskets…check out our Easter basket ideas: Easter Basket for Boys or Easter Basket for Girls.
