BeyondtheBooks

New Year, New Intentions: Spreading Love Through Tradition

As the new year begins, I’ve been reflecting on what truly matters: love, connection, and the traditions that bring us closer to one another. After taking an unintentional break from my writing, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be releasing a set schedule next week to bring fresh, meaningful content your way. To start the year on a positive note, I want to talk about spreading love—and a family tradition that’s always reminded me of what love looks like in action.

In my family, love isn’t just a feeling; it’s something you see, taste, and experience. It’s a lemon, an avocado, a fruit, or a tray filled with food. These simple items symbolize abundance, care, and the joy of sharing.

A lemon represents zest and brightness—a reminder to bring energy and positivity to the table, no matter the challenges we face. An avocado, with its rich, nourishing qualities, reminds us of the importance of substance and depth in our relationships. The fruit, bursting with sweetness, symbolizes life’s simple joys, while a tray filled with food embodies generosity and the act of giving.

In my home, this beautiful tradition unfolds almost weekly. A plastic bag filled with fruit or some other gift is often left on our front porch. It could come from a family member, who received it from a friend, and so on. These acts of passing and sharing stretch on and on, each one carrying a simple thought that brings smiles to my home and many others. This practice often ties back to the importance of having a fruit tree in one’s home—a tree that offers the gift that keeps giving. The fruit isn’t just sustenance; it’s a token of connection, generosity, and the beauty of sharing life’s abundance.

This tradition of gathering these items isn’t just about the food itself but about the intention behind it. It’s about sharing what we have with the people we care about, ensuring everyone feels seen, valued, and nourished—not just physically but emotionally and spiritually too.

As I return to sharing stories, ideas, and resources here on the website, I want to carry this theme of love and generosity into every piece of content. My goal is to inspire all of us to look at what we already have and find ways to share it—whether it’s our knowledge, time, creativity, or a simple meal—with others.

Next week, I’ll be sharing more details about my content schedule, but for now, I invite you to reflect on the traditions that bring your family together. What are the symbols of love and connection in your life? Will you be planting a fruit tree this year?

Let’s start this year by spreading love, one small act at a time.

JCV.