365 Squarey Monsters: A Holiday Blueprint for a Better Year

Sunday, December 14, 2025

A Holiday Blueprint for a Better Year

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No matter how fast life moves, the holidays have a way of slowing us down. A familiar carol, the smell of cookies in the oven, and writing Christmas cards bring us into a gentler rhythm. They point us back to something we don't always notice amid the busyness of everyday life.

We often think of these rituals as nostalgic or old-fashioned, but something more is happening. In a world that keeps accelerating toward speed and automation, the holidays invite us into experiences that feel more human. They reconnect us to our senses and to one another.

More than a nod to the past, the season gives us a glimpse of how rich our days can be when we slow down. If we look closely, these moments reveal lessons worth carrying beyond December. They show us how to nurture our relationships and bring intention into everyday life.

This week, I'd like to share a few things the season has been teaching me — lessons that can shape the year ahead when we let these rituals lead the way.

The benefits of analog living

December brings us back to our senses. Simple experiences — like decorating a tree or lighting a menorah — soften the pace and create moments that feel grounded and real. There's nothing digital about them, and that's part of their power.

It's no surprise they stay with us. The feeling of cold air on your face or the energy of people gathered in the same room cannot be transmitted through a computer or a phone, where the closest thing to texture is smooth glass.

A few years ago on my podcast, David Sax, author of The Revenge of Analog, said something that has stuck with me: "We build rituals around each other, not our devices." He's right. Every December, putting the phone down feels easy. We choose presence over productivity, and in those moments we remember how nourishing it is to give someone our full attention.

When the month ends, our calendars speed up again, but the option to slow down is still there. We can look up a little more often and let our attention rest on the people right in front of us.

The joy of being together

Every December, something shifts when we're in the same room. Connection becomes easier, reminding us of how different life feels when we make space for it — and how much we gain when we do.

I thought about this during our family's annual White Elephant party. The house was full of the energy that comes only from people sharing an experience.

This year's "hot item" was a wreath covered in lottery tickets. The adults (especially my brother Kevin) negotiated like seasoned traders, but the best moment came when one of my grandkids had his gift stolen for the first time. The look on his face said it all: confusion, disbelief, and the beginning of a life lesson about how quickly things can change. It was a tiny teaching moment wrapped inside a holiday game.

I got a mini karaoke machine that no adult wanted. But near the end of the night, the kids discovered it and turned the living room into a concert hall. Their joy reminded me that when we gather, the best moments often show up where we least expect them.

The power of generosity

If there is one thing that defines the holidays, it's generosity. As children, the wonder of the season comes from what appears with our name on it. I learned that early, during childhood visits to Santa in a Manhattan department store. He never asked for much. He simply gave, and that spirit stays with you.

As we grow, something shifts. The magic moves to the other side of the exchange. Giving becomes the source of joy as we see someone light up from a gesture made just for them. In those moments, we understand that generosity is really about connection.

And we learn that some of the most meaningful gifts are not wrapped at all. They come in the form of a note of thanks or any other small gesture that says, "I'm thinking of you."

Once this season is over, I hope you hold on to the joy you feel both as a giver and as someone who receives the kindness of others. Generosity is not bound to the holidays. When we carry that spirit into the year ahead, it becomes a way of living.

In this week's Power & Impact, I sit down with a remarkable thinker, Dr. Barbara Oakley, for a deep look at the science of how we learn, adapt, and tap into abilities we never knew we had.

Barbara shares her extraordinary path from "hating math" to becoming one of the world's leading engineering educators. Together, we reveal what modern neuroscience now proves: the brain can change, heal, and grow at any age.

From breakthroughs in brain science to lessons from global education reform, this conversation offers a hopeful message for parents, teachers, leaders, and lifelong learners alike: We aren't stuck with the brain we started with — we can shape it, strengthen it, and use it to thrive.

Cheers to December birthdays

December has never been an easy month for birthdays as the calendar fills up with holiday gatherings and the weather turns. It's no surprise that some December birthday boys and girls end up feeling overshadowed.

You've probably seen the jokes online about "birthmas" gifts or the December babies who insist their big day gets lost somewhere between shipping deadlines and tree trimming. But as I've talked with friends over the years, I've learned that those memes don't tell the whole story.

Many people born in December say they've grown to appreciate the built-in benefits of the season. There's time off from work, loved ones are already gathered, and the world around them is in a celebratory mood. In a way, their birthdays become part of something bigger. But here's what really matters: the people around them.

December birthdays shine when we make room for them and pause the holiday rush long enough to say, "This is your day, and it matters." If someone in your life is celebrating this month, take a moment to reach out, ask about their plans, and make sure they feel seen.

Over the years, I've received many letters from readers about the pros and cons of December birthdays. I hope you enjoy hearing them in this week's special edition of Celebrate Your Story.

The Worthy 100 — and an unexpected keepsake

One of my favorite moments each December is the release of Worth magazine's Worthy 100, a celebration of leaders and changemakers who use their talent to make the world better.

This year's announcement happened during Art Basel Miami Beach, and the city was alive with creativity. The timing meant I could join the Worthy 100 gathering and spend time with some remarkable artists and thinkers — including Romero Britto, who not only appears on this year's list but also created the magazine's cover.

If you know Britto's work, you know the energy he brings: bold color, optimism, and joy. He brings that same spirit into every conversation. At one point, he noticed the plain white shirt under my jacket and said he wanted to sign something for me. I thought he meant a program. Instead, he pointed to my shirt.

Before I could object, he was drawing across the front of it — hearts, flowers, bright shapes, and those signature Britto lines — then signing his name along the collar. I now own a shirt that needs its own laundry plan, but it's already one of my favorite keepsakes.

Holiday rituals — big, small, and wonderfully unique

Every family has rituals that make the season feel whole. Some are sentimental, others playful or unexpected. Maybe there's a recipe that only comes out in December, a friendly competition that sparks each year, or a small moment that carries more meaning than anyone ever says aloud.

What are the holiday rituals, sentimental or silly, that bring you together each year? I'd love to hear about the traditions that make your family's celebration truly yours.

Share your stories, photos, and memories. As a little holiday surprise, I'll randomly pick five submissions to receive a gift from the 1-800-Flowers.com family of brands.

I can't wait to read the traditions you cherish — and maybe even discover a few new ideas to bring to my own family gathering.

Sunday, December 14, 2025

A Holiday Blueprint for a Better Year

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