TRADITIONS

 

 

 Fall Family Football

Sledding Before Dinner

I am a big believer in traditions.  They bond people together.  A variety of groups have traditions.  Teams have traditions.  Fraternities and Sororities have traditions.  Schools have traditions.  Families have traditions.  The list could go on and on.

Santa Hats

Given that it is the holiday season, I would like to talk about family traditions.  Shortly after we got married my wife and I moved away for graduate school and later work.  For many years we didn't have family close by so we had to start our own traditions.  This turned out to be a real blessing.  Over the years we built our traditions as our family grew.  The meals we ate, what clothes we wore, what service we rendered, Christmas eve carolling, making ginger bread houses, how the children lined up to see what Santa brought, etc.  As time has passed and the children have grown and their interests have changed, the meals have become a bigger and bigger deal.  We now have the meals down to a science and expectations are high.  And, you definitely do not mess with tradition.  If even one side dish is missing, someone notices!

We have four traditional meals each year: Thanksgiving Dinner, Christmas Eve Dinner, Christmas Day Dinner and Easter Dinner.  Here are the menus:

Thanksgiving

Menu:
Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potatoes
Spinach Salad with poppy seed dressing
Pickles and olives

Dessert: Pie fest with an assortment of pies

Christmas Eve

Menu:
Clam Chowder
Crab Legs
Beet & Pickle salad

Dessert: Date Pudding

Christmas Day

Menu: 
Prime Rib
Napa Cabbage Salad
Party Potatoes
Cooked Carrots
Layered Raspberry Jello with Banana, Fresh Raspberries & Pineapple 

Dessert: Bread Pudding

Easter:

Menu:
Leg of Lamb
Rice Pilaf
Colby's Salad - Almonds, Mandarin Oranges, etc.
Asparagus
Curried Fruit
Seven Layer Jello
Pistachio Salad

Dessert: Trifle

When the children have been unable to be home at holidays due to college or in foreign countries for service, they all want to know how the dinners were.  They ask about the different dishes and if they were prepared just right.  I am so very fortunate to be married to a world class (self taught) cook.  I am qualified to do the pealing, stirring, fetching, meat carving and cleaning.  My wife, clearly the brains of the operation, does everything else.

So here is a TIP FROM A MAN... if you have family traditions, by all means, continue them.  If you don't have traditions, then start some immediately.  Do anything you can to bond with your loved ones.  Make sure your traditions are mobile so that if you relocate from home to home or city to city, your traditions will carry on.  Your traditions must only be meaningful to your family.  No outsider is allowed to judge!  Happy Holidays, and...

Enjoy life!

HOLIDAY EATING

Several articles I have recently read say that the average person gains between 7 - 10 pounds over the holidays.  When you think about the parties, goodies and treats that are available during this time of year it seems pretty logical that this is accurate.  Well, with a bit of preparedness and a game plan, let's be sure that this weight gain doesn't happen to us.

Here is a TIP FROM A MAN...

Parties / Snacks

When I go to a party, I have a plan in advance about what I am going to eat and drink.  If I splurge, I make sure that it is only a little bit, I don't eat the whole fruit cake.  At parties besides the cookies, cakes, etc., there is often fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and nuts.  This is where I focus my munching.  Rather than the Egg Nog, I go for the water with a twist of lime or a diet soda.  Really, it is very easy.  When I sit down to watch a game on TV, rather than chips, dip, cookies and cake, I choose fresh fruit, nuts, vegetable slices and pop corn.

Breakfast / Lunch
Here are photos of two meals I recently enjoyed:

Bran Cereal, Raisins, Blueberries, Sliced Banana, Walnuts, Almond Milk, Agave Nectar

Leftover Turkey, Fresh Peppers, Carrot Slices, and Apple Slices

These meals were very tasty, filling and easy to eat.  Preparation time was next to nothing.  Clean up was a snap.  Over the holidays, you tend to get out of your normal routine.  Be disciplined.  Have a plan for eating.  Fill extra time by going to the gym or visiting people who may be lonely such as shut ins or the elderly.  It is a wonderful time of year.  Do much good.  You can make a difference. I like this quote:

"With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time you can change the world."

Steve Maraboli
Author, Speaker and Radio Show Host

Enjoy life!

TRANSFORMATION

The human spirit.  The newspapers and evening news are dominated by nasty politics, disasters and all manner of tragedy.  Popular TV shows feature murder, with often more than one murder to solve in each episode.  So, rarely do we get to hear human interest stories like this one.  Please view this short video about a war hero that most everyone had given up on.  Fortunately almost everyone - not everyone...

Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... if you see some of yourself in this man, please believe in yourself.  If you know someone like this, figure out a way to reach out and help.  This can be a delicate subject.  There is no one way to do this.  This man reached a point where he was receptive to help.  If someone isn't ready, just build a relationship so that when he is ready, trust has been established.

We do not know the diet or exercise program that was followed here other than a few yoga clips.  But it goes to show that setting ones mind to a goal then following through can lead to a life changing transformation.  Congratulations Arthur, where ever you are.

Enjoy life!

BALANCE

We all need improved balance.  It doesn't matter if you are a world class ballerina, weekend athlete, or simply a person who is growing older.  Read the startling statement below found on the Livestrong.com web site:

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the No. 1 cause of death for men and women 65 years and older. The number of cases has increased 55 percent from 1993 to 2003. Therefore, balance training is one of the major factors in preventing falls for seniors and must be a part of any exercise program.

Pretty important stuff.  I've regularly encouraged people to use regular resistance training as they grow older as a way to prevent injury.  It is vital to prevent the loss of muscle tone.  Focusing on seniors, improving balance may prevent the possibility of falls and the resulting injury.  The following link has a program that is free and easy to follow:

Senior Balance Exercise

 

 

As for athletes, strengthening the legs and core are the first step and then drills and actual participation must follow.  I recently spoke with a person who is an avid snow skier.  He stated that his balance is always best near the end and just after the ski season.  All of the repetitions from turns and correction of balance in response to changes in terrain required in skiing trains the brain and the muscles.  Pretty interesting.  Following is a link for athletes:

 

Balance Exercises for Athletes By Jon Kahney, MS, CSCS - YouTube

Here is a TIP FROM A MAN... there is much more advise available from books, internet sources and from qualified trainers.  This post is intended to get you thinking a bit more about the importance of balance and ensuring that the maintaining and improving of balance is an integral part of your lifestyle.  It is difficult to enjoy life if you've "fallen and can't get up!"

Enjoy life!