Reconsidering Tradition

I’ve reconsidered a lot of things in the last five years. One of them is the word “tradition.” Are traditions and traditional values to be preserved? If so, why should I? If not, would I be better off avoiding participating in them and creating them?

I went back and forth on this several times and I’m definitely not closed on the topic. The way I look at it now is that it’s a past version of me or someone else before me deciding what I am supposed to do in the present. That past person decided with only the knowledge they had at the time what should be done in the future. This seems less than optimal. I want the latest information feasible to be what influences my actions in the present.

Some might say, “But what about the tradition of old friends getting together every year to go skiing at the same resort?” I don’t have a problem with this act, but I worry that tradition could keep the friends from finding a better resort. Or maybe one of them feels stuck and would rather do a new activity. Or perhaps they want to invite a new person or un-invite a current one.

I don’t think I can say that Tradition is bad. I can say that Tradition, especially alone, is not a good reason to do something. I want any traditions I take part in to be malleable and open for discussion by all parties involved. If I just stick to the old ways then the new, better ones might never be discovered.