If you're one of my new newsletter subscribers and/or a regular blog reader, you already know that one of my annual traditions is to prepare and mail holiday greeting cards. Although fewer and fewer folks send out year-end greetings, I continue to prioritize this tradition—as a way to reflect on the past and make way for the future, stay connected with family and friends, and to enjoy another creative outlet.
If you've read some of my past year-end posts, you know by now that each year I begin the process by paging through my (old-style) calendar, making note of the highlights and ordinary happenings, and identifying themes. I approach the task as an exercise in creative expression, aiming to share our family’s news in a way that is reflective of the world events and/or a major aspect of our personal lives.
Although I am acutely aware of deep levels of pain and suffering in our world, I often choose to center my annual reflection closer to home and on more joyful aspects of our lived experience. It would be quite an understatement to say that this year was a doozy, and yet still, there were bountiful experiences that brought laughter and joy, including some very special family trips, memorable outings, and LOTS of live music.
My hometown of Portland, Oregon made national headlines on several occasions this past year, including news stories featuring the Emergency Naked Bike Ride and the Portland Frog Brigade, so it seemed fitting that I'd choose one of those themes to center my greeting on this year. Surprise, surprise, I went with the frogs!
This theme allowed me to lean into the element of protest that has been a major part of the year, but to do so in a cheerful and playful way (if you're not yet familiar with the Portland Frog Brigade's philosophy and approach to exercising our First Amendment right to free speech, I encourage you to read up on it here.) This theme also allowed me to continue the creative aspect of experimenting with online tools such as Canva and offered the opportunity to lean into my punny side.
In previous posts I have written about my misgivings about writing silly books in such a serious world, and the same could be said about a holiday greetings, but I always come back to embracing humor and joy.
As I designed, refined, and reflected on this year's update, I was reminded again and again how much I love to laugh out loud and hear the laughter of others; how precious life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is to me; how dear the freedom of speech is to me; and how powerful art can be.
Here's to another year of hopping along with friends and family, finding our voices, making our art, and creating the world we want to live in.
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