Sometimes “old” gets a bad rap. It seems negative, as if no one wants it.
We are constantly dreaming of and wanting new things: new technology, new clothes, new house, new cars, new marketing tactics. You name it, we want it. We want the new year to come so we get new stuff and keep the cycle churning.
I’m writing today to make a case for “old.” I’m not talking about my 25-year old Navy sweatshirt I got from some cute mid-shipmen in Annapolis that is barely hanging on by thin threads. Nor am I reminiscing about the old, soft, raggedy Bambi blanket I slept with from the ages of 3 through 23. Nope, that’s just weird. Nor will I discuss the merits of good old fundamentals when it comes to marketing: getting the right message to the right audience, protecting your brand, providing stellar customer service, and offering relevant, well-built products and services at the right price. No, none of that. Today, I’m talking about traditions. There is something to be said for the traditions we keep. They can be comfortable, time-tested, and a remembrance of things that are truly special and important.
This week, Americans celebrate a unique holiday in our culture; one that everyone who is American, or anyone who is visiting an American, partakes in. We may poke fun of our time spent with families, but every year, millions of us travel to see and spend time with them. Most families cook turkey for dinner, watch parades and football games, and top off the gluttonous feast with a mouth-watering pumpkin pie.
I asked the staff at CSG Creative about their family traditions. I’ll share some of them, but we would really like to hear yours. After all, we are all about telling your stories!
Stephanie is one of our designers. Her mom cooks the turkey and everyone makes a side. They hold hands for the blessing and everyone says one thing they are thankful for. Kids of all ages do the dishes in her house (lucky her). Then, they eat turkey for the rest of the week—turkey chili, turkey sandwiches, turkey anything. And since she prefers the “mold” kind of cranberry sauce, they serve two kinds—one fresh and one canned.
Heidi is an account executive. When Heidi told me her day was boring and usual, I asked her to elaborate. What I learned turned out to be a nice tradition that is somewhat different. Heidi’s family (brother, mom and dad) did not travel or have other family members over. They often had other people in their lives at all times of the year, so this was one day just for them to spend time with just each other in a nice, quiet atmosphere.
Megan is our creative director and an all-around fun gal. Megan plans on honoring her dad’s tradition of having cranberry juice with a scoop of lime sherbet. As Megan says, “It’s delish!” (I may need to try that one—yum!)
Thanksgiving traditions for my family have varied over the years. During my childhood, we traded off years between one of four families. Each family had a boy and a girl around the same age as my brother and me. I think our parents did this so they could hang out with their friends and party instead of traveling to see family. I never really saw these people other than at Thanksgiving, so it was kind of cool—we had our “Thanksgiving friends.” Nowadays, we (which includes my brother and his four “energetic” children) celebrate at mom and dad’s in the quiet woods of Pennsylvania where the dogs (and kids) can run off leash. A round of bowling seems to be the activity of choice after the turkey and then I get the heck out of there and come back to my nice quiet house and eat leftover turkey sandwiches made and packed with love by dear old mom.
Yup, traditions are nice. ‘Nuff said. From all the staff at CSG, we thank you for your business and your friendship, and wish you the best during this Thanksgiving holiday.
And don’t worry, if you miss a tradition or two this year, it will come around again. http://youtu.be/LjKF7aQthcQ