Many many  years ago, Oprah had a show about gift ideas before her famous “Favorite Things” show ever came to life.  Somewhere, sprinkled amidst the giving advice were sweet thoughts…the idea of giving someone the gift of memories of wonderful things from the past. 

That Christmas Eve, I arrived to the table armed with pen, paper and a mission – a new family tradition.  I asked for each person at the table to share five memories about someone or something in the family that made them smile.   Not quite sure of the rules, I made them up along the way.  I was looking for happiness to capture and share… and Oprah’s sweet thoughts did not disappoint. 

Here were my rules:  Take 15 minutes and write down at least 5 sweet thoughts – memories that make you smile when you think of them and the people around this table.  After, we’ll be sharing…Go!

After the 15 minute exercise, we put all of the pieces of paper into a basket and then, passed them around the room as we drank hot chocolate and apple cider, reading each other’s gifts aloud, often laughing or pausing for discussion around the moment captured on a little piece of paper.  The next year, we did the same thing.  Then the next year.  And the next.  Each year, I would keep the little torn pieces of paper of handwritten memories and pack them away with the Christmas decorations.   

After a few years, I went on the hunt to find the right journal and carefully “scrapbooked” the memories into the pages, giving them a permanent home for presentation.   Soon, the book became the discussion piece as we sat on Christmas Eve, drank hot chocolate and stopped to breathe in some family time and happy moments.

Then, like in many families, life came into play and into the mix for holiday attention – Travel. Business. Kids. Pets. Home, Careers. Moving. Health….and somehow, the tradition of sweet thoughts got lost somewhere between the search for the perfect gift and the resolve to have more family time around the holidays.  But this year, the book is back out.  The pieces of paper are all carefully cut out.  Pens will be placed in a basket.  Hot chocolate is lying in wait.  And sometime tonight, when the family comes together to enjoy the holiday, sweet thoughts will have a seat at the table.  More precious memories will be captured.  More pages of the book filled.  More hearts lifted.  More gratitude and joy shared.  Tonight, with those that I love the most…we will remember moments of why we are a family…and why the bonds are more precious than anything else in the world.  All of this with a few words written down…sweet thoughts.

Tonight, make your own rules for sweet thoughts…and capture the moments in your life and share them with those you love.  You just might find that the little pieces of paper hold more joy and love that you could even realize.  Happy Holidays and JOY to all of you.