“You can go your own way” – Fleetwood Mac
This is post #26 in my quest for 30 in 30.
Yesterday I wrote about taking a hard look at your traditions to see if they still hold any relevance in the life you live today. I emphasized how by looking at the “Who, What When, Where and Why” of your traditions you can get a really good feel for what it is you believe and why. Rather than blindly following traditions I feel it’s important to question everything and only hold on to what really works for you now.
Today I want to look at the practice of starting new traditions and reasons why you might not want to follow any real traditions at all. Today is Thanksgiving 2009. I am not spending it with family or having some big turkey feast as was the tradition that I and most other Americans have followed for as long as can be remembered. Instead, I spent the day by myself watching a football game and then eating a small raw vegan meal that in no way resembled a turkey. This evening I’m going to watch a movie about ninjas. This is quite a break from the “traditional” thanksgiving. Why the change? Because the old tradition didn’t fit with my current lifestyle. I am indeed a raw vegan and so any meal with my traditionalist family would have been an exercise in weight management. Plus, all of my family lives in other parts of the country and I didn’t wish to travel this year. Some could call this breaking tradition but I call it being practical. There are some things that we do because we think we have to. There’s a certain expectation for us to follow along and go with the flow. I think traditions should be something that you truly believe hold value to you. For me, there was no value in the trip and no value in the food so I opted to break with tradition.
In breaking with tradition people often claim that they are starting their own traditions. I think there is a lot to be said for this. In starting to do things your own way you are finding what best works for you and the life that you lead. This should always be the main criteria for any traditions that you recognize. If it’s practical and has a purpose then you are on the right track. You can adopt new ways that don’t have to fit in with everyone else’s. The only way you’re going to truly live life according to your own rules. Live you’re way and don’t apologize for it. Be proud of your new traditions and in knowing that it’s what’s right for you.
Of course, there is alternative to following the traditions of others or starting your own. That is to not follow any tradition at all. See, traditions are typically repeated actions that have some form of meaning that has been placed on them by us or others. Being dedicated to following tradition by definition means that you need to repeat some action or ritual. This puts you in a bit of a limiting position. If you are confined to repeating actions that you’ve made in the past you are not able to fully live in the present. As we go through our lives change happens. We change, our situations change, even our family structure changes. By committing ourselves to recognizing and repeating past traditions we are not able to acknowledge changes that occur in our life and adapt to our ever evolving world. Drop the need for tradition and you are more open to what is happening in your life right now.
I don’t need any traditions to define who I am or what I should be doing. Next year I may not be a raw vegan. I may have a different lifestyle or live in a different place and nothing then may be the same as it is now. I prefer to be prepared for any eventuality by not limiting myself to any particular traditions. I am open to change and ready for whatever may come in the next moment. This is my freedom.
Thanks for being here. Talk to you tomorrow.
-JB
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Today’s music: Go Your Own Way
By: Fleetwood Mac
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