Do you have or know of a unique tradition? Something practiced by your family or even just a personal or individual tradition. Perhaps the tradition is related to a holiday but it could also be a unique practice used in raising children, starting school or anything. We welcome your posts and comments below.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Individual Traditions
Is there something that you do as a regular productive, practice that is fun and unique. Something that may work for other people? Post your story below as a comment.
3 comments:
Anonymous
said...
I’m not sure this qualifies as a tradition but there is something I do that might be slightly unique. It is an individual thing and not related to any holiday.
I live in an area where I have to cross a bridge and pay a toll almost every day.
On paydays, when I cross the bridge I will not only pay the $3.00 for my toll, but $3.00 for the car behind me.
Most of the time I just get a wave and a honk from the driver behind me as he passes my car on or after the bridge, but there was one time that I will remember for a long time. I pulled up to the toll booth to pay and as I did I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed the car behind me was a nice sports car (I drive a rusted out Duster) and I thought to myself “ya this guy really needs it” but I went ahead and paid the $3 for my toll then told the toll person (a young women) that the extra $3 was for the car behind me. She glanced back and said “you don’t know him do you” and I said “no” she gave me the biggest smile I have ever seen and I knew my little act had made a difference in her day. I then proceeded and looked back as the driver behind me tried to hand her $ then they exchanged a few words. He sped up to about 60 in 2.4 seconds and raised his arms and yelled “Yes” as he went by.
You'll probably have a lot of traditions such as this, but this is just a little thing I do with my 6 year old daughter. For some reason, my son isn't as into it. But anyway. At night time, we count kisses from the door. We usually go in groups of ten (we've made it up to 2000 before she decided to start over.) After I kiss in the air ten times, then I give ten blows. The problem is that those kisses want to escape all over the room--behind the curtains, in her toy bin, under the bed. So she tells me where she sees them, and I collect them for her. Then I go to her bed and tickle them gently all over her face. It's just a fun, silly thing we do. :o)
After years of great health, at age 57, I came down with a series of digestive mysteries, that even doctors could not pinpoint the problems. I was weak, tired, and lost over 12 pounds, ones that I didn't need to lose, and tipped the scales each morning at 92. I was not depressed, though many doctors suggested I was, but I knew I needed to do something to get away from thinking about myself and my body. I had to eat lots of good healthy food that I would buy at the various health food stores in the area in North Texas. So I decided that I would look for opportunities to serve others in my jaunts to the stores several days a week. I started with shopping carts! People are always leaving them in the parking lots - and it is annoying to others to have a shopping cart in the parking space you want, or to have one hit your car. My first try was an older woman, probably in her eighties. She had a load of plastic bags with food she was putting in her trunk. I approached her with this: "Hello. I have an 85 year old mother who lives in Idaho. I can't help her today, but I can help you, if you want me to. Can I help unload your groceries and take your cart back into the store for you?" She, of course, was so appreciative. Now, two years later, I am still taking people's shopping cart. I can't explain how many smiles and thanks I get, but they also "bless me" as I help them. Though my target is usually the elderly people or young mothers, the other day I took a young man's cart, who was running from the store as I pulled in. I offered to take his cart when he finished unloading, and I wish I had taken a picture of his surprised facial expression. It was the best! Such a little effort on my part has brought me huge blessings of service.
3 comments:
I’m not sure this qualifies as a tradition but there is something I do that might be slightly unique. It is an individual thing and not related to any holiday.
I live in an area where I have to cross a bridge and pay a toll almost every day.
On paydays, when I cross the bridge I will not only pay the $3.00 for my toll, but $3.00 for the car behind me.
Most of the time I just get a wave and a honk from the driver behind me as he passes my car on or after the bridge, but there was one time that I will remember for a long time. I pulled up to the toll booth to pay and as I did I looked in the rear view mirror and noticed the car behind me was a nice sports car (I drive a rusted out Duster) and I thought to myself “ya this guy really needs it” but I went ahead and paid the $3 for my toll then told the toll person (a young women) that the extra $3 was for the car behind me. She glanced back and said “you don’t know him do you” and I said “no” she gave me the biggest smile I have ever seen and I knew my little act had made a difference in her day. I then proceeded and looked back as the driver behind me tried to hand her $ then they exchanged a few words. He sped up to about 60 in 2.4 seconds and raised his arms and yelled “Yes” as he went by.
You'll probably have a lot of traditions such as this, but this is just a little thing I do with my 6 year old daughter. For some reason, my son isn't as into it. But anyway. At night time, we count kisses from the door. We usually go in groups of ten (we've made it up to 2000 before she decided to start over.) After I kiss in the air ten times, then I give ten blows. The problem is that those kisses want to escape all over the room--behind the curtains, in her toy bin, under the bed. So she tells me where she sees them, and I collect them for her. Then I go to her bed and tickle them gently all over her face. It's just a fun, silly thing we do. :o)
After years of great health, at age 57, I came down with a series of digestive mysteries, that even doctors could not pinpoint the problems. I was weak, tired, and lost over 12 pounds, ones that I didn't need to lose, and tipped the scales each morning at 92. I was not depressed, though many doctors suggested I was, but I knew I needed to do something to get away from thinking about myself and my body.
I had to eat lots of good healthy food that I would buy at the various health food stores in the area in North Texas. So I decided that I would look for opportunities to serve others in my jaunts to the stores several days a week. I started with shopping carts!
People are always leaving them in the parking lots - and it is annoying to others to have a shopping cart in the parking space you want, or to have one hit your car.
My first try was an older woman, probably in her eighties. She had a load of plastic bags with food she was putting in her trunk. I approached her with this: "Hello. I have an 85 year old mother who lives in Idaho. I can't help her today, but I can help you, if you want me to. Can I help unload your groceries and take your cart back into the store for you?" She, of course, was so appreciative.
Now, two years later, I am still taking people's shopping cart. I can't explain how many smiles and thanks I get, but they also "bless me" as I help them.
Though my target is usually the elderly people or young mothers, the other day I took a young man's cart, who was running from the store as I pulled in. I offered to take his cart when he finished unloading, and I wish I had taken a picture of his surprised facial expression. It was the best! Such a little effort on my part has brought me huge blessings of service.
Post a Comment