Happy Holidays! It’s officially December, which means it’s the most wonderful and expensive time of the year! From holiday drinks, buying gifts for friends and family, visiting holiday events or light displays, buying holiday decor or attending concerts… December can be quite an expensive month! Right now the cost of everything is higher than usual, which makes it difficult to check everything off your Christmas list. I don’t know about you, but I get anxious about the price of things! I have a tendency to buy something of lesser value rather than spend my cash on what I want just to save a few extra bucks! The reason why I’m mentioning this is because I always forget about the investment I’m making when I buy something. Whether it be a gift for someone else or splurging on myself, I have a hard time seeing the bigger picture and investment in my purchases.

Our area has a TON of events coming up in the new year. From State Spring Rings to our annual Read and Ring and Festival 2024, we have a lot of incredible events that you don’t want to miss! With each event usually comes an additional cost for registration, music, transportation, food… and the list can go on and on! Sometimes we get intimidated by the price tag and we forget about the investment we are making in our skill, our community, our organization, our education and most importantly, ourselves. Every event is an opportunity to learn something new and expand our knowledge and skills. Whether that be attending an Area 11 event or National Seminar, we attend these events for three reasons: the classes, the concerts, and the community. Community is a HUGE part of why our organization even exists. Compared to other instruments, the handbell world is small but mighty. It can be hard to connect with other handbell ringers, but thanks to the power of social media, our national organization and musical events, we are able to stay in touch and connect with each other for our shared passion: handbells!

With all of our Area events coming up next year, it can be difficult to make a decision whether or not to attend our events based on the cost. Instead of focusing on the cost of things, I encourage you to focus on the opportunity attending these events can bring. From learning a new technique, meeting a notable composer, ringing a piece of music on your “dream ring list” or even just connecting with long-distance friends over dinner. Our events are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that could change your life forever. Attending the 2022 National Seminar in Glendale, AZ changed my life and love for handbells. You wouldn’t be reading this novel if it weren’t for the connections I made at National Seminar!

Instead of getting sticker shock, consider the bigger picture and the opportunities that come with every Area or National Handbell event. Money will come and go, but our emotions, memories, and experiences last a lifetime.

In the busyness of December, I hope you can find time to invest in yourself by registering with one of our upcoming Area 11 events. From my handbell family to yours… I hope you have a wonderful Holiday (and Concert) Season!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and have a wonderful New Year!