Stack Joy with Traditions
I think the best traditions have the power to create what I call Joy Stacking.
One of my favorite Christmas traditions is decorating cookies with family and friends. I’ve done this my entire life. My grandmother, Ardis, would bake mountains of cookies each December, and when the extended family gathered, we’d crowd around the small round table in her kitchen and get to work. Some of us took our time crafting masterpieces; others raced through so we could get to the eating part sooner. We’d laugh about past years, remember epic cookie designs, and fill every inch of counter space with wax paper and color.
Now I carry on the tradition with my own family. Each time we do, I add another layer of memory and joy. It feels like borrowing happiness from the past and bringing it into the present. As I share stories from my childhood, my kids add their own—stacking joy upon joy, year after year.
Outside of Christmas cookies, I realize there aren’t many other traditions I’ve held onto. Maybe you can relate. There’s an opportunity here to reclaim the power of traditions—to create small, meaningful rituals that connect us across time. It doesn’t take perfection, just a bit of intention. Even on the tired or grumpy years, I’m grateful we kept the tradition alive.
So this holiday season, consider starting something new. Keep it simple and interactive. Don’t wait for the “perfect” idea—just choose something, invite others in, and see what unfolds.
Here’s to reclaiming the art of meaningful traditions—and stacking joy for years to come.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom Page, LCPC
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