A Life of Wonder

The community organization Skip the Small Talk created this list of questions to break the ice during the holidays. Here are my answers.

1. Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? What’s special to you about it? Thanksgiving. It centers gratitude, family and food in our lives, also is a reminder that the holiday is about perspectives and that the stories we hold dear to our heart have many other sides and ways of telling.  
2. What is one thing you would change about the holidays – either in your own life or in the world – if you could? I wish I lived closer to my family and my wife’s family so we can celebrate together. 
3. What is a holiday from a culture other than your own that you admire or want to learn more about? So many. I’ll start with Japanese. 
4. If you could choose a non-material gift to receive, what would it be and why? Time. Nothing is better than time with someone I care about. 
5. Are the holidays something you look forward to or are meaningful to you? Why or why not? While I’m not a sports fan, I’ve always enjoyed hosting Super Bowl parties. 
6. What holiday memory has stuck with you the most? One involving a drum circle in New Mexico. 
7. Smells and sounds are two of our senses that bring back the most memories – are there any smells or sounds you encounter during the holidays that bring you back to a particular memory or stage of life? What feelings does that bring up for you? The voices of my parents talking in the kitchen. The smell of onions being fried. 
8. What’s different about your life from last holiday season? What changes are you grateful for and which ones are challenging? An understanding of the deep importance of health and systems of support in my life. 
9. Which person or people have played the biggest roles in your holiday experiences? Parents and my wife. 
10. What does holiday joy look like to you? Has it changed through different stages of your life? Spending time with those I love, exploring new countries and cuisines, sharing stories with old friends. I increasingly value experiences above all else.

What are your answers?