“Why do you have Danny’s clothes in the bottom drawer and my clothes in the top drawer where I can’t reach them?” questioned Sammy to his mother.
Danny was the older brother, two year’s taller than Sammy. Mom laughed as she shared this story with me. It really was so logical, filled with common sense, and coming from such a little guy!
Of course, the arrangement had started off okay. Danny’s clothes were moved to a lower drawer to make room for the baby’s clothes to be placed in the top drawer so mom could reach them better. For about three years this arrangement was kept until Sammy’s question.
I love tradition for tradition’s sake. We do some things that have become a routine and we recognize that we do it just because it reminds us of some precious time gone by. I have my daddy’s ice tea glass. If I were to serve tea to my son in it, I’m sure he would immediately remember. We would share the memories even though there are more convenient ways to serve the tea now (throw away cups). I’m all okay with that.
But to continue patterns of behavior long after common sense dictates they should be stopped is a different matter. So I tell myself. Telling myself is not evidence of learning. The test comes in by-passing the next “mortuary” fan I see. I have too many; I don’t want more; I need to get rid of the ones I have, NOT buy more. All that is knowing, but means nothing unless I STOP the useless pattern. Then meaningful learning will have occurred.
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Thanks to Ben Huberman for the prompt DiscoverWP
Sweet aroma 
This resonates with so much truth and applies in situations in life where we simply behave because it is what we have always done. How necessary to keep the important (traditions and the sacred etc) but flexibly move to change what needs to be realigned with current needs. Thanks for post.
Thanks, Faye. I love tradition, but for what it gives to us in memories, love, and such, not just blind habit.
I often say: we need to explain our traditions, or they do us no good. Every family, every congregation, every business, needs a Sammy to ask the right question. New for the sake of new isn’t any better. Before we make a change, we need to be able to explain why. J.
You are so right.
Adorable reminder of life lived out…I wonder which “habits” I have had that will be left as traditions when I’m gone? Whatever they are I pray: they bring Good, they inspire love, they invoke laughter. Hugs!!
I love your goals – bring good, inspire love, invoke laughter. Very nice.
😘❤️😘
I find it interesting to observe the habits people have. I can see many that I have and my children have the same, then there are the ones they have of their own and I’m sure both will passed on to other generations. Some habits we are willing to change, then there are others that we probably never will change.
Technology forces some change even if we grumble our way through it. For example, I hate the tiny phones that do everything except make phone calls. Okay so I exaggerate a little! 😀