by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
For my wife, Lindsey, Christmas means a warm fire, a hot cup of tea and decorating the Christmas tree together as a family. For me, it’s more about last-minute shopping, risking my life on a ladder to hang thousands of Christmas lights, and assembling a dollhouse or basketball hoop at midnight. The one thing we both agree on is that the holidays are all about traditions.
My grandfather once told me, “Never be the first to break a tradition, but always be the first to start one.” It sounds like simple enough advice, but in the craziness of life, traditions are a reminder that some things remain steady.
I’ve always been a sucker for a good tradition – one that brings people together and makes us slow down and appreciate the moment. Every year, my family and I make time for traditions large and small. Whether it’s our trip to see the Clydesdales decked out in their holiday gear at Warm Springs Ranch or casting a line at Bennett Spring State Park on opening day of trout season, these rituals are more than just annual events – they’re snippets of time that remind us of what’s truly important in our lives.
Our traditions become part of our life’s story and who we are. I believe traditions are a chance to celebrate family and set a path for the next generation.
Traditions are just as powerful in the rural electric cooperatives that serve our communities. In many ways, they’re the heartbeat of what makes those cooperatives so special. Just like my family making the annual trip to stand in freezing waters to catch a trout, co-ops have their own legacy of traditions. Whether it’s hoisting an American flag in a bucket truck at the local high school football game, serving fried fish at the annual member meeting or awarding a scholarship to a local farm kid with big dreams of college, these cooperatives are built on traditions and missions dedicated to strengthening their communities year after year.
There’s no better time to visit your electric co-op than during the holidays. From decking out bucket trucks in festive lights for small-town parades to sponsoring food and toy drives for those in need, your co-op celebrates this time of year with traditions old and new.
What I respect most is that these aren’t just obligations or duties for co-ops; they’re a commitment to their member-owners who share the same rural values.
While I know traditions can change over time, there is one tradition your electric co-op will never break – always keeping your lights on. As you gather this holiday season, take a moment to think about your traditions and those who make them possible.
From all of us – Lindsey, Max, Charlie and me – I hope you all have a blessed holiday filled with warmth, laughter and those special traditions (good or bad) that remind us of what life is truly about.
Caleb Jones is the executive vice president and CEO of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. He is a member of Boone Electric Cooperative.