Make It Mean Something: Intention Traditions
Song Of The Week
This delightful gem from Harry Styles’ album, Harry's House, transports us to a place where summer never ends, and the air is thick with the aroma of sweet memories—like a late-night drive under a blanket of stars.
The song flows effortlessly, bursting with effervescent beats that bubble up like a freshly popped bottle of grape soda. Harry’s vocal delivery is smooth and intoxicating, drawing you into a whimsical realm where love dances on the melody of soft guitar strums. It’s the kind of track that makes you want to twirl in your living room or perhaps sip a glass of that elusive grape juice while contemplating life’s greatest mysteries—like why we can’t get through an entire day without at least one snack break.
“Grapejuice” is a musical reminder that life is meant to be savored—like your favorite vintage bottle—that sometimes, you just have to let your hair down and enjoy the sweet moments. So, grab that sparkling grape juice, and Cheers!
I Got No Roots
This past week, I spent some meaningful time with my family as we celebrated my brother’s graduation. Between the endless food prep and carefully crafted lanyards, the day was full of laughter, catching up, and reminiscing. Being surrounded by my extended family gave me the chance to ask deeper cultural questions—especially about Okinawa and what it really means to be Japanese. I had originally brought up the idea of getting my Japanese passport, but the conversation took an unexpected turn. I learned that, surprisingly, our family doesn’t hold onto any specific traditions. Much of that, I came to realize, is rooted in the harsh realities of war and famine that shaped life in Okinawa during my grandparents' time. Plus a bunch of trauma and a mix of dispera of course, it is really hard to create tradition rooted in longevity and familial love.
And this makes me really heartbroken, because it’s not just my mother’s side this way, it is also my father’s side. I come from families broken, dispert and unknown. What brings me comfort is knowing I am not alone, I know other people have the same feat as I do and together we can shape our future to look different. How you may ask? Simple, by creating our own traditions.
Looking For Inspiration
One of my favorite shows, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), along with The Office, highlights just how silly and nonsensical traditions can be—and that’s what makes them so special. The only real requirement is that they happen once a year or mark some specific occasion. It’s not about the act itself, but the meaning you give it. How you choose to make something feel special is exactly how it becomes a tradition.Think of “Slapsgiving” or “Nothing Suits Me Like a Suit”—completely ridiculous, yet somehow meaningful because the characters commit to them. Committing to the bit sounds exhausting; finding the time, the right pieces, the right place. It all seems too much, however, reminding myself that one day out of 356 cannot hurt too bad.The Office does this too! Things like Dwight’s Schrute-style holidays or the annual Dundie Awards– a great way to acknowledge the people you love. These moments show that a tradition doesn’t need deep roots or serious meaning—it just needs to be repeated with enough enthusiasm. That’s what makes it stick. That’s what makes it fun.
So, how do you create a tradition? How do you take something small—something silly even—and make it feel like it matters? The answer isn’t complicated... I think. You just decide to do it, right? Whether it’s a yearly inside joke or a moment you return to on purpose, traditions start when you choose to treat something like it’s worth remembering. And when you say it like that, it's no brainer, obviously but why does it feel like I am missing something?
Let’s Celebrate!
At the heart of any lasting tradition is intentionality. It doesn’t happen by accident—it’s built, moment by moment, with effort. Sometimes it does happen by accident and those are called happy little accidents. Whether it’s planning a dinner every year, sending a text on the same day, or showing up even when its inconvenient, traditions are shaped by the choice to keep showing up. It takes thought. It takes care. It takes deciding that this one thing—this small ritual—is worth carving out space for. The most meaningful traditions aren’t always grand or perfect; they’re consistent. They remind us of who we are, who we’ve been with, and what we want to hold onto.That intention is what gives it life—and what makes it last.
And I’m not talking about birthdays or anniversaries, the kinds of milestones that come around on their own every year. I mean the traditions you create from scratch. The ones that are the highlight of the year. The ones that don’t come with built-in reminders or Hallmark cards. These are the moments you choose to celebrate, not because you have to, but because you want to. Because they mean something only to you and your people. That’s what makes them powerful—they're personal, intentional. Keeping traditions hold those around you accountable to love.
The year is still young, you guys. We’re in June—the halfway point—which means there are still six months left to make something meaningful. Traditions don’t need to be old to matter. They just need you to start. So what are you waiting for?
This week’s song feels like a soft echo of everything I’ve been thinking about. Grapejuice is quiet, nostalgic, and full of those in-between moments—the ones that seem small but end up meaning the most. It reminds me that the real magic of tradition isn’t in the grandeur, but in the feeling. A glass of grapejuice. A moment that matters. A choice to hold on to something just because it makes life feel a little fuller. That’s what creating your own tradition is all about.
Enjoy This Journey With Me
° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °
This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO
