Tradition or Habit?

Pin It

Oh the holiday season brings so many wonderful "traditions" forward as we celebrate the season. But what really qualifies as tradition instead of habit? Don't the two words play power games in your head? "Tradition" to me needs to be honored for the sentimental factor, the coziness of past honored every year because of the good memories it holds. "Habit" kind of is blah. Habits tend to run on the negative side of the spectrum. Yes, good habits exist but bad habits persist. It is bad habits that lead us to destructive paths and run parallel to addiction. Habits can be boring and when we start to fall in a rut. Traditions are noble and habits are everyday. Habits can be changed and Traditions are to be upheld. I am playing with this word choice because though I am a fan of traditions I am aware of how I use my friendly term as another excuse. It is okay to try everything at Thanksgiving dinner because it is Thanksgiving. What is wrong with one more, two more, or the honest five more cookies that are Christmas themed? It is holiday season only once a year right? It is tradition to enjoy the holiday sweets dressed up in green and red colors. The treats of limited flavors like cinnamon, mint, or egg nog deserve a taste before they disappear. These bonuses just encourage us to feel the spirit more, right? Even though we know these holiday items are not exempt from the everyday calories or offer little nutritional value to our bodies that we have to carry with us all year round. Traditions allow for splurges on a habitual basis. And habits? They are boring because we are not powerless to their sentiment factor. We use the good habits to establish routines that help minimize the hassles and allow for most rewards. Bad habits are to be discarded when found non-helpful. Eating constant sweets in the everyday world and as a habit is not looked upon as the healthy choice. Skipping the gym under the guise of tradition during the holidays to focus on family and friends again seen as noble and caring. Skipping the gym for extra treats is a horrible habit. So though I am all about traditions I am going to try to honor the true roots of the tradition and not substitute it with its horrible imitation. If baking pumpkin pie and pumpkin bread with my dad is the tradition. Then spending time with my dad is the tradition. Remembering what kitchen duties I was assigned and joking about memories is how to revive the tradition or even throwing on the apron and pulling out the recipe. Polishing off a store pie is not the memory to cherish and relive. May true traditions abound on your HealthFULL Journey. For I truly do believe to Fully Understand Life by Living we need to honor the memories and that the magical spirit of Christmas is rooted in true traditions. Just beware of those cleverly disguised habits that offer little substance for your health or memories. 'Til we meet again. . .