As I mentioned last week, Christmas feels like ages ago, and Summer…dare we even dream of it yet? We’re in this time of in-between where we can anticipate longer, brighter days. But what about now? What about this moment? Do we waste this post-Christmas, pre-Summer period, or do we get creative about what we do with our time?

I have pointed out in a few of my 3 Things Thursday posts that there is ALWAYS something soul-nourishing to do, but if you want to initiate something of your own, here’s a suggestion.

In high school, my friend’s family hosted an annual February party. It was something we all started planning for in January because it was more than just a regular ol’ potluck. After the smorgasbord of delicious dishes was devoured, we would start in on the entertainment portion of the evening. YES! Entertainment portion! As I said, not your normal potluck of sitting around, eating and making small talk with 45 people. Everyone was required to throw their name in a basket, aptly named the ‘basket o’fun.’ When your name was drawn from the basket, it was your turn to get up and share something creative. Some people played the piano or the guitar, others sang, and there was always a bagpipe (as we all edged our way to the outskirts of the room). People told jokes, read passages from favourite books, or told a personal story.

I remember playing a duet on the piano one year, then singing with 4 or 5 others, and reading a passage from All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum. Those nights form some of my favourite memories from high school. When I think about those days I realize how truly blessed I was to have a group of friends who were just as weird and quirky and PROUD to be that way, as I was. We were the kids who laughed at the ‘cool’ kids who reeked like cigarette smoke and who bragged about how drunk they got on the weekend. We’d saunter off to our Advanced Placement English classes, or early morning vocal jazz practice, or meet at each other’s houses to plan performances for get-togethers like the February party. (I know it’s not nice to laugh at other people, but I’m just realizing how pretty awesome it was that we knew who we were and who we weren’t, and that was just fine with us.)

I’m thinking about adopting the tradition of a February party with my own family and friends. I think it’s such a great way to spend time with the people we care about. It forces you to get over yourself and just BE your Self – something I think we can all stand to remember on the occasions we forget, and something I know I want to pass down to my kids.

Is this type of party something you would consider attending/hosting? What would you share when your name was picked?