Enjoying the present by living the traditions of the past

Whoever said the Healthy Pharmacist doesn’t eat sweets was wrong. Four donuts and a cider later, he still lives in spite of the judgement.

Dressed in flannel on a crisp fall day, such a sugar rush seemed to be the perfect way to embrace the changing seasons. While a rare occasion, spiking my insulin was not a lapse of will power. Instead, it was a tasty ode to the past, keeping tradition alive.

There is always something great to look forward to in fall. Saturday’s are designated college football days, filled with plenty of game watching and tailgating. Leaves change colors, float to the ground and bring the reminiscent smell as they pile up. Costumed people stroll and stumble through the city at night, excited for candy or drinking, or both. And lest not forget the pumpkins, apples, and heading to the orchard for some donuts & cider.

Good memories of these past activities provide a good mood welcoming the new season. Each fall I look forward to these same things and rarely ever get tired of the repetition. It’s like a guaranteed fun time and a new experience despite its lack of novelty. Who can ever get tired of eating donuts & cider in backdrop of red and yellow leaves?

Having participated in these activities for so many years, I consider them traditions; an exciting event to look forward to and relive without really having to think about or extensively plan. It’s just what you do and will enjoy.

And traditions most definitely apply beyond the fall.

Next comes Thanksgiving where time is spent with family and friends filling up on delicious turkey, gravy, and afternoon naps. Immediately following the feast, up go the decorations for Christmas and the holidays. The scent of pine and spice, the lighted streets and houses at night, the hot cocoa, and snow all contribute to the cheerful atmosphere and an eagerness for the changing months.

Finding respite from an ever changing world

Beyond boosting excitement for each new season, traditions like these add to the “aliveness” within the present moment. Walking through piles of leaves lets me forget about the to-do-list and focus on the sights and smells of the season. During such a saunter, I may recall feelings of the past but when they come, I take a nice long sniff and realign my thoughts to fully engage the now, knowing this moment occurs only as a fleeting time of the year.

Traditions also provide a necessary reason to connect with the people you care about. Each year I fly home for Thanksgiving to spend time with family and friends. If it weren’t for such annual events, the few opportunities I would get to see so many close friends would likely be either weddings or funerals…and many of them are already hitched.

And while tradition offers many positive benefits to life including aliveness and social connections, what I believe it ultimately provides is stability and predictability in an ever changing world. I know I’ll be happy drinking a pumpkin beer in fall or a peppermint mocha latte in Christmas despite all of the craziness that’s occurring in the world. These traditions are my scheduled respite from it all.

New traditions needed

Resting on old traditions though, is not enough to sustain feelings of comfort and cheer for the entirety of life. At one time, all traditions were new and only through repetition did these events became forged as everlasting. As our lives evolve, so too should our traditions. New homes, new circumstance, and new friends all allow for new pastimes to be created and cherished.

You may not be aware, but I’m sure you have traditions and not even know it. Any small anticipated behavior that is repeated on a scheduled basis and brings you joy, I consider a tradition.

In college, it became tradition every Sunday night to eat with my track & field teammates in rows of tables up to 20 people strong. Once of drinking age, it became tradition every Wednesday before Thanksgiving for all of my high school friends to get together back in town at the local pub.

Moving to Boston in 2014 challenged the legacy of all my previous traditions. No longer could I speed out on a summer day to a Michigan lake to swim or to my parents home for a Sunday supper. Instead, I was forced to explore a different environment and establish new traditions with new people. Summertime now brings the anticipation of weekend camping and hiking trips in the New Hampshire White Mountains, or Cape Cod excursions for a lobster roll and a salty swim. And thanks to Google Maps, I now have a new apple orchard to binge on donuts each fall.

A part of me

Past down from generations before, traditions shaped many of my current behaviors and will always be an essential part of me. They build excitement in an otherwise bland daily routine and allow me to relive the joys of the past, fully in the present moment, with people who’ve had such a positive influence on me. Reliving tradition allows me to feel comforted by the past and connected with loved ones, and gives a sense that “things are still good” in the world.

I think we all enjoy traditions and need more of them. Big family gatherings during the holidays are the obvious examples, but even simple events can be considered tradition. I like to wake up on the weekend and have coffee and workout. Why can’t that be a tradition? I enjoy it and look forward to it every week. Similarly, getting Sunday brunch with friends, going to church, or walking around the neighborhood over time can become a reassuring tradition that allows you to disconnect from the hustle, reconnect with joy, and recharge your being.

With more traditions, the present moment can be more fully engaged, knowing what we are doing is exactly what we’ve been so looking forward to be doing.