Words that caught us: What new holiday can you invent?

 

Can we try something practical for a change? Sawa?

 

Let’s say someone gave you an opportunity

To come up with a new holiday,

What would you suggest?

 

No, it doesn’t have to last the whole day –

It can be for an hour, a few days, or even a month.

How would you like to celebrate it?

Who else would need to be part of it?

 

Holidays are symbols of what we value.

We mark them by scheduling specific time, and artifacts to accompany them.

They offer us a chance to remember and celebrate our joys,

And to congregate around something we all share and value.

 

Looking at your life experience so far,

What holiday(s) would you invent?

What do you feel you aren’t celebrating well enough?

What shared feelings do you think we are missing out,

Or neglecting, to our detriment?

Around what should we congregate, celebrate and enjoy together, more?

What conversations should we be having, that we are not holding?

 

You never know…

Your idea might catch on and spread to your friends and others,

And become a gift that amplifies our culture, and makes it better –

For this is the way every holiday we know today, came about.

 

So, what holiday would we invent?

For us we would invent three holidays.

 

First, is a daily connection hour, to reflect on our mortality,

And connect with ourselves - 

A daily sacred space and moment, for only US.

 

Second, we’d invent a weekly connection hour,

Dedicated to someone important in our lives,

Where we’d try to re-connect, re-establish and strengthen our bonds.

The focus would be THEM – 

To let them know that they are singularly valued, cared for, and loved.

 

Third, would be a monthly joy day,  

Where we'd gather together as family or friends,

And, alternately, together, engage in one activity that brings joy to one of us.

Everyone would have their turn to choose anything, within reason,

That they enjoy or wish to enjoy,

And we’ll all join in the activity, make it happen, and have fun while at it.

The little one may want to visit the zoo, and so shall we all.

The young one may want to go skating, and so shall we all.

The older ones may want samaki Karai, or choma, at some budus somewhere.

Whatever it is, it’s your day, and we’ll try our best to make it happen, for YOU!

 

Actually, we’ll go ahead and try all three of them, and see what happens.

What about you? 

What holiday(s) will you invent? 

What will you try out?

 

*Reflection inspired by this post by Seth Godin

 ** Photo credit: Tim Zankert on Unsplash