For better or for worse, if you’ve experienced any significant life changes recently, the holidays can amplify those shifts.

While returning to traditions can be one of the most comforting parts of celebrating a holiday, adopting and adapting to new ones can be a positive way to adjust to fluctuations in our individual lives and family structure. Creating traditions takes just a little time and energy to plan. Here is a short list of traditions to inspire your own holiday traditions and make the season a little brighter.

•Make traditional dishes for your holiday meals and include foods from your culture or foods you ate growing up. Ask for recipes from relatives to keep your family food traditions alive.

•Get a handful of friends together and go caroling. You’ll be surprised by how well-received your singing group is, even if you’re out of tune.

•This one I hear many members talking about. Purchase or make a holiday ornament for each child every year. This is a great reason to reminisce during holiday decorating.

•Find a giving tree that allows you to sponsor a family in need or purchase toys for children in need. Go shopping for the items together and donate them.

•Start a gag gift tradition. Give a funny gift to a family member. Each year, pass the gift on to another unsuspecting family member.

•And of course I have to mention come to the Senior Center with a friend and take our Rosettes class. Teresa and Paige will be hands on helping participants make rosettes in our kitchen. Leave the mess to us. The class and samples are free, but if you would like to take some home it is $5 for a half dozen. Make sure you sign up for this class so we know what to prepare for. Sign up by stopping by or calling the front desk 507-433-2370 ext. 0.

Don’t forget our coffee shop where every day you can have homemade soup for $1 and a sandwich for 50 cents. This week Tuesday, we are serving broccoli casserole for $2. You are always welcome at the center.

 Upcoming Events

Monday: Blood pressure checks, 9 a.m.; Cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge), 12:30 p.m.; Exercise with Evie, 1 p.m.;

Dance, 2 p.m.; Movie, 6 p.m.; Facebook class, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; Broccoli casserole, 11:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500), 12:30 p.m.; Silver Sneakers, 4:30 p.m;

Zumba Gold, 4 p.m.;

Silver Sneakers 4:30 p.m.; Zumba/Zumba Toning 5:15/6:35 p.m.; Yoga 7:40 p.m.

Wednesday: Wood Carvers, 8:30 a.m.; Tai Chi 9:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Cribbage), 12:30 p.m.; Stitching Bees, 1 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Boot Camp, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday: Silver Sneakers 8:30 a.m.; Exercise with Evie, 9 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridg e), 12:30 p.m.; Open chess, 1 p.m.; Zumba gold, 4 p.m.; Silver Sneakers, 4:30 p.m.; Zumba registration, 5 p.m.; Zumba/Zumba Toning 5:15/6:35 p.m.; Yoga, 7:40 p.m.

Friday: Defensive Driving, 9 a.m.; Tai Chi, 9:30 a.m.; cards (Pinochle, Duplicate Bridge, 500), 12:30 p.m.;

Ping Pong, 3 p.m.

 Weekly Card Results

Monday Bridge

Nov. 18, three tables

1st Arnie Lang, 2nd Jaynard Johnson, 3rd Steve Howard, 4th Mabel Vaale, 5th Russ Vaale

Tuesday Duplicate Bridge

Nov. 19, five tables

1st Marge Blaser, 1st Joyce Crowe; 2nd Bud Higgins, 2nd Jim Fisher; 3rd Betty Jorgenson, 3rd