Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 240 – Traditions

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 240 – Traditions

Traditions (12-08-08)

Over the weekend, my wife and I attended a Dickens’ Christmas. For the past few years, this has become a favorite thing of ours to do to kick off the holiday season. It is fast becoming a tradition. Another thing we did was to light up the house and exchange a single gift. Why? Because December 6 is the Feast of Saint Nicholas and Ruth and I have been performing this little ritual ever since our first Christmas together twenty-eight years ago. With us, it is a tradition. As visitors this season walk through our home, if they have a good eye they will notice something. From the stately white porcelain figurines that adorn our living room mantle, to the unassuming tiny figures that sit on a shelf in the powder room, every room in the house has a nativity scene. Of course, this is a tradition to give us a gentle reminder of the reason for the season.

When I take a moment to think about it, our holidays are steeped in traditions. You may find families doing an egg hunt at Easter time, attending the annual parade on Memorial Day, flipping burgers at the family Fourth of July cookout, and so many, many other events. We celebrate life’s milestones with tradition, whether it be a favorite food, an activity, a mode of dress or just the way we act.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could make our life, our living, in and of itself, a tradition. What an interesting thought that we could hold to a tradition in the way that we think or act or in the way that we treat others. So too, wouldn’t it be amazing if we could hold to a tradition in the way that we treat ourselves.

When we talk about health, nutrition or fitness in general, we often hear the word “habit.” Make fitness a habit, we are told. Make good eating a habit say the experts. Get into the habit of exercising. But, why not take it to the next level and make all of these things that we know are good for us a tradition. A habit is something you do, almost without thinking about it. But, a tradition is something you do because you know the value of it and the good that it brings, not only to you, but to those around you. And, what is more, a tradition is something that you don’t want to miss out on as it becomes ingrained in your life.

So, what better time of the year than this season which is riddled with so much tradition and so much that is good, than to start forming some personal traditions. What better time than the present to begin to form traditions that will make all the seasons of the year and all the traditions that go with them, so much more enjoyable. You can start now to make your life and the living of it, a tradition.
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Copyright 2004-2008 John R. Gesselberty. Mahler's Monday Morning Motivators (MMMM) may not be copied or used without permission of the author. All rights reserved.

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Have a Great Week!

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[Bytsi]

I like that concept John - tradition instead of habit. I've always called my holiday workouts (be it a Thanksgiving turkey trot or a new year's day run) a tradition, but I hadn't extended the idea to the more mundane "every day" workouts... Tradition then becomes something to be treasured, not just done because we always do it.

Thanks!

[rem1956]

Good food for thought, John. I honestly don't know how you keep coming up with these, week after week!

[Lost Dog]

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[GG300]

Most of our traditions are served up with alcohol. I'll have to work that out.

Thanks John

[MindPower]

[Darkmind]

I really like this one . I do want to consider my training and nutrition more of a tradition rather than a habit.

[kingkop182]

Nice perspective, John

[AdamD]

I meant to comment on this on Monday. This is a really awesome Idea. i like it a lot because it really adds a perspective of life being special on top of just "habits." And that is very good for my motivation

[FlyinM]

It's all a matter of perspective. Thanks John.