If you read the comic strips today you likely will notice a theme — all of them include a reference to Charles Schultz, the creator of Peanuts. In honor of what would have been his 100th birthday, cartoonists across the country were asked to include a tribute to Schultz in today’s strips, honoring the legacy of the greatest of their trade. It’s a beautiful way to recognize the impact someone had, and were he still living, it’s far more meaningful than a pile of physical gifts.
We would be wise to follow this lead when paying homage to others in our lives. For example, when our graphic designer/brand manager left our workplace we all wore purple that day — the signature color of our local competitor which she forbade us from ever using. I have seen obituaries that encourage mourners to wear bright colors or beach shirts or wakes that make a toast with the deceased’s omnipresent Diet Coke as a way to celebrate their life.
As we head into the season of gifts, think about whether your giving can be a more meaningful than material way of showing your love.
