We are now in the midst of that unique time of year known as The Holiday Season. For many of us, there is a religious basis for these seasonal rituals. Others participate in the yearly festival of lights as a way to brighten dreary (and long) winter nights! But there is one thing pretty much everyone does this time of year: celebrate! And with celebrations, along with food, drink, and general merriment, come the toasts.

I wrote a longer guide to toast-making in 2011, and you can read it here if you'd like. But if you're pressed for time (and who isn't this time of year?) here are quick and easy pointers for toast-making:

1) Honor your host.
2) Toast the occasion you are celebrating (gathering of friends, workplace success, completion of another year, etc.).
3) Wish everyone the best for The New Year!
4) Raise your glass and say: "a toast to ----- " and fill in the blank with #1, #2 or #3, whichever is most important to you.
5) That's it; you're finished. Stop talking and enjoy the party.

Short and to the point. Notice that you do not talk about yourself here! Because it is not about you, and everyone seems to know this until they enter "the zone" of toast-making speechifying. You've seen it happen. So be a good friend this year and lead by example.

Happy Holidays to you and yours.
See you in 2016!