New Year's Eve Traditions Around the World

For many New Year's Eve is spent thinking of resolutions, drinking their favorite alcoholic beverages at parties and getting that kiss at midnight but in many parts of the world the activities vary from what color of intimates you have on to eating grapes!


In Mexico many celebrate by eating one grape with the twelve chimes of the bell during the midnight countdown. Each grape is consumed with a wish for the new year. Homes are decorated with brilliant colors of red to bring overall improvment to their lives, yellow to bring blessings of employment, green to improve financial health and white to bring health and well being in the new year. 


In Italy traditionally the color of your intimate apparel is thought to bring various blessings. In the old days they also dropped or unused items from their windows to symbolize out with the old and in with the new but not so much today. 


In Costa Rica many will run across their streets with luggage asking for new trips and adventures in the upcoming year! 

Of course all over the world many will barely be able to stay up until midnight and just sleep the new year in!

What will you be doing this New Year's Eve?

Alone at Christmas? Make new traditions!

Christmas use to be a time I hated. I was always alone and did not have a place to go to for the holidays. This always made me feel very depressed but over the years I have been able to become part of chosen family and make new experiences with them.  


Many people are alone at this time of year due to family circumstances such as death of loved ones, divorce, empty nest, isolation from biological families and relocation
. 
"More and more people seem to be on their own these days. Census figures show that one-fourth of the nation’s households — 27.2 million of them — now consist of one person, compared to just 10 percent in 1950. For that matter, the average American has only two close friends in whom to confide — down from three in 1985, according to an authoritative sociological study released in June. Nearly a quarter have no confidant at all."


For those of us who fall into these categories make a choice to start new traditions! Find others in your circles who may be experiencing these situations and start a new tradition of spending the holiday together. Take turns hosting the holiday events each year and invite everyone you know who falls into the above categories. You can even do gift exchanges or volunteer on the holidays together! 


If you do not know others who spend the holidays alone you can start traditions on your own of volunteering or even take a trip during the holidays! Just because you are spending the holiday season alone does not mean it has to be a negative thing! 


One day you might be the one with no one to spend the holiday season with. If you know of someone in this situation reach out to them and invite them to be part of your holiday traditions!  

Why am I still awake is a question I find myself asking often. Anxiety levels are high & I am struggling with a client who I is working against me.

In Honor of Shelley Lawson - The Valiant Fight

"The valiant fight is not quick, nor easy

'Tis a struggle of arduous length

In which few have battled more nobly

Fought with more courage or strength

Refusing to accept the probabilities and odds

Odds that counted them an easy prey

Striving to remain with cherished loved ones

Determined they'd somehow find a way

Bravely enduring pain and weakness

In exchange for the chance it would provide

To give their body more time to fight the battle

Hoping for a healing over time

Giving their best through all the challenges

Pushing their body past the limits if its strength

Touching the hearts of all who witnessed

This battle over unexpected lengths

...And for a time even death itself

Turned and hung its head in shame

Subdued by the courage and valiant strength it saw

In the soul it sought to claim...

Yet the purposes of eternity can't always be understood

From within our earthly frame

And at times death's rebirth to a life eternal

Accomplishes purposes we're unable to explain

So there are times when death is allowed

To take a soul fighting the valiant fight

Yet the fighter's courage and bravery isn't diminished

When the outcome is death, instead of life

And family and friends are left with a deep assurance

Of just how deeply they were loved ... "

http://www.funeralpoemsandreflections.com

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