Make any New Year’s Resolutions? Have you broken any of them yet? Regardless, here’s chance to try something new to refresh, educate, and/or deepen your family life.
Challenge your family to learn about a new country – ideally one you’ve never been to and know little about.
*For a list of countries and background for teens/adults click here.
*For a similar list for kids click here.
How does the size, language, wealth/poverty, compare to your own country? How long would it take you to travel to this country? What is unique or important about the country? Would you want to live there?- If you could have any job in the world, what would you like to do?
If you already have a job, are you happy with it? What do you like most and least about your current job? Even if you already have a job, are there other jobs that you might be interested in? If you were qualified and could have any job in the world, what would it be? - Challenge your family to become familiar with a faith tradition other than one you practice now or grew up with.
Perhaps you are very satisfied with the faith tradition you currently practice; or perhaps you consider yourself a “NONE” (spiritual but not religious). Still, learning the basics of at least one other faith tradition can be an enlightening, enriching endeavor. Choose one of the primary world religions, (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Taoism, Confucianism, Caodism, Baha’i, …) or another faith that sounds interesting to your family, and learn about it. For a summary of the major world religions, click here.
You could also research Secular, Agnostic, or Atheist systems. How is the religion you research similar or different from your own beliefs? Is there anything you particularly like about it? - Consider a new family tradition. (dinners together, family Zoom call, family game night or hike…)
When our children were all at home (and before the teen years usurped much of their evening home time) we had the custom of a once a week Family Night. After dinner we gathered for about an hour to focus on a fun family activity, social justice action, and/or a creative home prayer. As they “graduated” out of Family Night and moved away from home, this has morphed into a weekly meal with our in-town son, a weekly Zoom call with our Singapore son and his wife, and a monthly Zoom call with the whole family where we rotate members choosing the Question of the Month. If your family is still all at home discuss your favorite common activities. If you live in different towns, consider creative ways to connect.
