If you're Christian, Merry Christmas. Also, if you're not Christian, Merry Christmas. I'm not Christian, but I'm a big fan of celebrating Christmas's non-religious aspects -- I love giving gifts, uniting with family and friends, and cooking and eating wonderful foods. As you can see from the photos above, I also love knitting Christmas stockings (though I admit that if I remember to buy stocking-stuffer gifts, I usually do so at the last minute.)
I also, more or less, celebrate Hanukkah. I don't believe that some high deity made a miracle of giving people enough oil for one night of light but making it last for eight, but I do believe that lighting the candles and saying the blessing and playing with a dreidel were memorable parts of my youth that I wanted to share with my own children.
I'm also a big fan of what many holidays can teach us:
- Valentine's Day offers a commitment to sharing the love. (You do know the meaning of my first name, right?)
- Juneteenth's commemorates resilience and persistence and freedom.
- MLKjr Day reminds us that we don't have to be violent to be effective and that love is stronger than hatred.
- New Year's Day offers a chance for people to reflect, renew, and goal-set.
- Veteran's Day provides a reminder to give thanks to those who've allowed us to have the lives we have.
- Thanksgiving, well, it's right in the name.
But those are holidays we all know about. Here are some other reasons to celebrate:
- My birthday offers a chance to be grateful for a body and mind that mostly do what I want. I have the freedom and privilege to make a lot of choices, to eat plentiful nourishing and delicious foods, etc. I'm a lucky girl.
- Your birthdays give me a chance to let you know how wonderful it is that we've crossed paths. You make life better for those around you.
- National Napping Day (March 11) is a great time to enjoy a daytime snooze.
- Bubble-Wrap Appreciation Day (Jan 27) is really popping!
- I wouldn't want to miss National Thumb Appreciation Day (Feb 18). After breaking my clavicle earlier this year, I recognize how important my hands and arms are. Go thumbs!
So I hope you get the idea that there are lots of days out there that encourage us to embrace particular ideas and people, but why not go all-in? Every day is a gift worthy of celebration. What do you have to celebrate today? Please share your thoughts in the comments.