Today is Christmas Day.

Growing up, I don’t know exactly how it started. But from middle school on, Christmas Day meant one thing in our house. Frying turkeys and inviting friends and family over.

Some years, it was just a couple of turkeys. Other years, it felt like ten. People would come and go throughout the day, grabbing their turkey, having a beverage, staying for a bit, then heading on to the next stop.

What my parents probably didn’t realize at the time was that their actions were doing more than filling a day. They were creating a tradition.

Those same actions are now the tradition in my own family. We open presents. We make breakfast. And then we start frying turkeys.

Friends and family come and go. But the memories last. And those memories make an imprint on people.

That truth became clear this year when we briefly toyed with the idea of not having the turkey fry. My daughter Lucy was visibly upset. That’s when it hit me.

What feels like a simple decision to you may become a fond tradition to someone else.

Most people act for today. Few people act with legacy in mind. But tradition matters, and tradition is built one action at a time.

So wherever you are today and whoever you are with, remember this.

Your choices matter. Your presence matters. And what you do today may be remembered long after the day itself is over.

Merry Christmas!

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