Lifestyle Design - Celebrate Your Family - Part I

I have to take that someone wants to spend more time in the office or on her career, but everyone seems to miss time with her family and friends. Family is not only in this context and discussed by those who only through blood. Many of us have our truest and best family because of a lasting friendship, not blood relation to all. Many of us have very dysfunctional families, and it is often not easy or pleasant to share time with them and participate in the dysfunction.

I think that family is who you are, whether by blood or birth or by choice and opportunity. It makes no sense to sacrifice your precious time with the inevitable toxic relatives. We all have them, those who only make us crazy on some or all levels. Those who believe they are victims in life and in search of a rescue, the sister that lives in perpetual crisis and with whom all conversations proves exhausting; the dead beat nephew or niece that not only their share act plays and woe is me as their theme song, or the father that never was and never wanted a will.

I do not believe that in the attempt, these people or even influence. I respect their borders, but also know that when around them is not worthwhile, I make the choice not to. My life and time here is my own and too valuable to the toxic species to rob me of it. I have the unique privilege to know so many who so wonderful to be gracious and give so much that they are, I choose my time with and call family.

It is of crucial importance in order to realize a truly celebrate in our family fun and rewarding opportunities often. Here are some tried and true and even a few new ideas for celebrating with your chosen family, be sure to see Part II of this article for more easy and fun ideas.

Family Delights

Well, this could be any day of the week, this is not what is important. The important thing is that it is a scheduled day that everyone in the family agrees to the meeting place for a meal together. It is a weekly opportunity to celebrate every family member of the triumphs and support them through their challenges. It is an opportunity to give feedback and advice when asked. This could indicate an individual's home or perhaps rotated weekly. It could also be at a favorite restaurant, so nobody has any establishment or renovation. Often, it is a tradition passed on from generation before or departed from your mother or mother-in-law. But regardless of whether you do not have the tradition, you can create your own.

Celebrate your family with a regular weekly dinner together!

Regular Meeting

Often these are only once every five years or so with relatives from around the world to gather, catch up and celebrate family time. While this may require a high degree of planning and coordination, it is perhaps even fun to do it on a smaller scale each year with those in a certain region or in the immediate vicinity. We have the big meeting every five years, but it seems every time there are more people who do not know, goodness forbid or simply not remember. Five years can be a very long time in this age of instant everything. My aunt has an annual trip with her children and grandchildren for two weeks to some exotic local every year. This seems a wonderful opportunity for all in their immediate family. Exotic means for them, Africa or Australia, but exotic could mean for you, Disney World or Detroit. It is not so much about where you meet, but that you come together and share the time.

We are all so accustomed to electronic means of communication forget that we are face to face communication allows for a very special and more integral level. With face to face we get the gift of expression, vocal intonation, gestures and body language. We also get the gift of touch, so often ignored, repressed, or forgotten in this age of virtual relationships.

It always seems sad to me that today too often we find ourselves see long lost family only at weddings with all the attendant Pomp and Circumstance and funerals or memorial ceremonies with the protocols and guidelines as well, there's not enough time or Effort for family fun connections. Celebrate your family every day!

Celebrate your family with regular meetings!

family ties and technology

Consider the fun in the selection of perhaps one day a month and is dedicated to catching up with the family. The easy part is when you on the calendar at the beginning of each year, and you have to look forward to. Delete all the excitement and stress of the holidays and make this a casual together.

Well, this is where technology can really help. If you do not all come in the same city, agree to a conference call, a family-calling (such as fewer companies!). As much as I advocate face to face, I know sometimes it is simply not possible and use of technology to facilitate meaningful stay in contact. Why not a family exclusive chat room, call it the family speak, and have specific times that everyone jumps on to their news, the latest wins, and support in the event of challenges or losses.

Celebrate your family with creative use of technology!

Family Sports Saturday

Many families have children in sports Saturday. Is there a better way to celebrate your family than to extend that invitation to the next game or the playoffs to your extended family. Regardless of win or lose, you can save time catching up in the stands and after words with a post-game pizza or other festive fare. Too often it seems that one parent is at the games, while the others either goes into the office or take their other children to another event. Try to occasionally coordinate efforts so that everyone can at a game and cheer on that player and change it to do the same for the other children later.

Add aunts and uncles, especially single ones, often we just love that kind of time with our families.

Celebrate your family with a sport on Saturday!

Botanical Garden family outing

Most major cities have botanical gardens and many smaller do as well or at least a beautiful park, well planted and encouraged to picnics or that offers a deeper education work, and play areas for children. It is strange for me until today that the education my mother has made us grow up on plants still sticks. Half the time I can not remember how I learned about a specific plant but know that it's probably kind of hike to a botanical garden or walk with Mom. Well, I'm not talking about all know the Latin names and roots like this, but only the delicate beauty of the Queen Ann's Lace, the breathtaking scent of roses and its many varieties, the tender droop by a woman slippers, the heady scent of hyacinth, The happy sunshine of daffodils, and the elegance of the Bearded Iris to name a few.

also learning a little about the variety of evergreens from pine and spruce at Arbor Vitae and shade-loving hostas and ferns can be a lot of fun for children too often cooped up inside with their attention captured only from a computer screen and keyboard. I did what I as a black thumb for many years, only to find that if I have an active interest in gardening and it has the fun that I had really good luck with the selection of plants chosen and been able to to create a sort spontaneous jungle of gorgeous flowers. It would be easy to include children in the art of planting and then decorating the garden with sculptures, glass and mercury more. Give each a small plot to cultivate and call their own and watch the wonder and joy when they grow plants and producing fruit or flowers. If you are in a smaller house without a yard, window-box gardens would be just as good.

Celebrate your family in the garden.

Copyright 2008/2009 Melissa Galt

 

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