What Does Tradition Mean To You?
story by Murphy Monk
The dictionary definition of tradition is “a long-established custom or belief that has been passed on in this way.” Now, I’m not trying to knock Webster’s or anything, but in my mind a tradition can be something you’ve done as few as two times.
Traditions, as well as lives, look a lot different than they used to. People used to start a job, work in that company climbing the ladder for 40 years, and retire in their home town. They did Thanksgivings and Christmases with their families in the homes and churches they grew up in.
Now, in the world of being able to find anything on a smart phone in one minute or less, people have become accustomed to having things instantly. Don’t like your job? Apply for another one. Don’t like your house? Sell it. Don’t like the breakfast casserole you’ve eaten for 25 years on Christmas morning because it’s “just what you do?” Don’t eat it. As a society, we’ve gotten really great at realizing things we don’t want to do and not doing them…we just might not have figured out exactly how to make all of the things happen that we do want.
You might be a person that has had the same Christmas activities your entire life — but then you got a new job. You are living in a new town where you know no one. In order to have your new town actually feel like yours, you have to make it happen. Get involved. Sadly, new friends aren’t going to pop out of your television after binge-watching Netflix for hours. (That would be so awesome though!) Go to the tree lighting and downtown holiday open house. Go to the local Young Professionals Group’s Christmas Party; Mingle & Jingle is on December 7th at Black Creek Arts, if your new town happens to be Hartsville! Figure out an area that you can plug in to and make your new town feel like home. Put down your phone or computer when checking items off your Christmas list — shop local. Take a stroll through your downtown and meet store owners. Go across the street and get a cup of coffee. Stay for dinner.
When we think about traditions, we have a tendency to look backwards at how things have always been. Personally, I think that is a mistake. You have to respect the past obviously, but in my opinion, you have to have an eye on the future when thinking about your best traditions. While we long for familiarity, especially during the holidays, we have to realize that some of our best traditions haven’t even been formed yet! If you had asked me five years ago my favorite part of Christmas, my answer would’ve been completely different than my answer today. We can’t forget all of our old traditions (especially if that requires me not getting BBQ on Christmas Eve), but we have to be open to making new ones. New doesn’t always mean bad, especially when it means adding more people and places to your heart for you to love. Happy Holidays everyone! Add a new tradition to your list this year. Cozy, matching Christmas socks might be a perfect place to start!
Murphy Monk, Membership Development Coordinator, Hartsville Chamber
Greater Hartsville Chamber of Commerce, 214 N 5th St, Hartsville (843) 332-6401