Traditions are a big part of this time of year. While the Red Cross is 126 years old and full of them, this little blog hasn’t been around long enough to create too many of its own yet.  

I tend to think traditions become meaningful because of the nuances and quirks of our customs. It’s the little things.

In traditional Red Cross communications, we’re pretty good at explaining how taking a CPR class, getting prepared, and donating blood can save lives. What’s missing in this type of marketing is the explanation of how taking these actions will play out in your individual lives.  

While it’s probably not a secret that, for example,  a CPR class might have its quirks, the advent of blogging has allowed those of you who have been through it to talk about the stuff in between. The process. The dummies, the instructors, the classmates, and even the bleach wipes. The reality of achieving this rite of passage. 

For instance, the blogger at Toast Floats and her daughter took a CPR class together recently:

So even though I’ve got clients breathing down the back of my neck, we are moving all our furniture to California tomorrow, and Santa hasn’t gone shopping yet, Jaime and I spent the weekend at an American Red Cross course.  The best part of the experience was seeing Jaime so engaged. I’m not saying she wasn’t bored at times. Frankly, our teacher displayed all the personality of a wet cod left for three days on transom in a snow storm. Readers one and all, if you have not already taken your first aid and CPR course, I strongly encourage you to do so.

AND, the Colorado Carrigan and her husband found their own quirks in their class:

Saturday Joe and I took the CPR class. It was definitely enlightening. I had forgotten all the stuff you need to do for CPR, and PLUS the best part of it was that they changed all the stuff, so everything I learned like 15 years ago it was a good thing I forgot.

This is the good stuff. For one, it’s useful to know that maybe we need to concentrate on teaching skills, but it’s also really powerful when you place our services into the contexts of your lives.

I hope The Chat (as I’ve taken to calling it) will find tradition and custom in telling these real stories, rough edges and all.

In the meantime, please enjoy your own traditions this holiday season.

Filed under: Flickr, Health & Safety