This holiday season local business owners are celebrating everything they are grateful for. Whether it’s watching Die Hard (the ever debated Christmas movie), helping pups stay with their families or enjoying traditions with loved ones, these four owners are excited for it all. As they reminisce on the new and old, raise a toast for everything there is to be thankful for.
Rachel Mairose of The Bond Between
This holiday season we are looking forward to keeping families together! Last holiday season, we were lucky enough to pioneer our respite foster program, empowering people to keep their pets during times of hardship.
One of our respite foster families was a mom with three young kids who were living in their car with their beloved Dachshund. The weather was getting colder and they were running out of options. Not only did an amazing foster home open their home to this adorable little weiner dog, but they ended up inviting the whole family over for a holiday meal - and to see their pup. Fast forward a year and this family has been reunited and are getting back on their feet.
Social services for pet owners are often an afterthought, but we are hoping to change that! Through our plentiful respite partnerships, including domestic abuse victim-survivors, unhoused veterans, and just recently the Ronald McDonald House, our pet food shelf, which distributes hundreds of thousands of pounds of dog and cat food annually, and our tribal veterinary partnerships throughout the state of Minnesota, we are able to say YES to keeping people with their pets when things get tough.
I am personally looking forward to seeing our community rally behind these programs. Without the support of our community, these programs would not exist. But I know our Minnesota animal lovers will come together for the animals - and their people, too.
Chris and Julie Hanson of Owl Optical
This holiday season will be very different for us. We are moving into our new home near Minneapolis’ Cedar Lake in December. It will be a year of new traditions mixed with old. We try to make the holidays as special for our kids as possible. It will be exciting to see how this plays out in our new home. We will have to figure out where the tree goes, where to hang lights outside and all the other decorations that were purchased for our old home of 20 years. Christmas Eve always has one tradition that we love besides taking the day off and opening a few select gifts. We all watch Die Hard. Yes, it is a Christmas movie. When Hans Gruber falls from Nakatomi Plaza, we know the season is in full swing. Time for another eggnog. Owl Optical will be lightly decorated with an odd holiday song playing now and again. We try not to overdo it. It seems people are bombarded with holiday music and it can be a bit too much. Our hope is that this is the best holiday season ever. We love Minneapolis and all our neighbors in the Twin Cities. Happy Holidays!
Meaghan Moakley of Azalea Acupuncture & Aesthetics
This holiday season I am celebrating being in the now! I have an intense desire to enjoy and cherish each season of life that I am in. It’s so easy to get caught up and get excited for the next thing, especially this time of year – I see this in myself and with my patients. We then look back wishing we could relive those special moments. This holiday season, I am committed to staying present (the best I can) and enjoying each moment as it comes. Getting acupuncture is an amazing way to ground and reconnect with yourself. It’s also a great way to support your nervous system, which usually needs extra support around the holidays (hello extra sweet treats and social obligations). I will be embracing the winter weather, bundling up and walking the lakes with my friends and family throughout the holidays! I love getting outside first thing in the morning and seeing how nature changes throughout the seasons. This is another practice that helps me feel rooted in the present moment. I wish you and yours a warm and wonderful holiday season!
Stacia and Jeremy of Driver Group at Compass Realty
For us, family gatherings, whether large or intimate, form the heart of holiday traditions. We relish in the joy of hosting and welcoming many family and friends into our home over the holiday season. These moments remind us of the bonds that tie us together, offering a sense of belonging and love. Whether it's sharing a festive meal, playing board games with our kids, planning our holiday donations or simply enjoying each other's company, these gatherings create lasting memories that we treasure throughout the year.
Alongside celebrating with family, we remain grateful for home. To us, home means love, comfort and stability. Home can provide comfort during tough times, and shared laughter in moments of happiness. We feel an especially deep gratitude for home, where the spirit of the season comes alive. It seems our traditions are woven into the fabric of our home. We are grateful for the evenings spent with loved ones, sharing stories and making memories. Our home continually reminds us of what truly matters. Wishing everyone the comfort and joy of home this holiday season!