When I think about the holidays, one of my sweetest memories is standing in my grandmother’s kitchen, peeking over the counter into a giant tub of cookies. Her annual cookie exchange was chaotic and cozy in the best way… warm ovens humming, everyone laughing, my cousins and I sneaking bites when we thought no one was looking. It was simple, but it felt magical.
Somewhere along the line, that tradition faded. We traded the messiness of community for the ease of solitude. Life got fast, holidays got busy in all the wrong ways, and that feeling of togetherness has just slipped away. This year, I decided to bring it back in spite of how busy the holidays feel to me. I’m hosting a holiday treat exchange of my own, hoping to recreate that familiar magic and maybe spark something new for my friends, neighbors, and their families. There’s something powerful about gathering around things you made with your own hands. It feels grounding, joyful, and something worth slowing down for.
My hope is that this inspires you to revive a tradition of your own this season. It doesn’t have to be a treat exchange; it just has to bring people together. In a world that feels busier than ever, maybe the most meaningful thing we can do is make space for community, one cookie, one story, one shared moment at a time.
By Joplin Jones: November 20, 2025 – Great Falls, Mt
Author: Staff
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