Monday Morning Motivational Message - Traditions

What traditions do you adhere to?

Traditions are the beliefs and customs that are passed down from one generation to the next.

In 1971, the movie "Fiddler on the Roof" debuted. My grade school class took a field trip to watch the film. The musical comedy-drama was an adaptation of the 1964 musical by the same name. The film, set in early 20th-century Russia, centers on Tevye, the father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious and cultural traditions as outside influences encroach upon the family's lives.  

Tradition is the opening tune in the musical. Sung by Tevye, the song highlights the importance of tradition in providing stability and identity to the characters in the face of external influences and pressures. 

Tradition provides stability and an identity that is passed down to each generation. Some examples of traditions are:

The Highland Games: A Scottish tradition of culture and sport that includes tug-of-war, caber toss, and dancing. These games celebrate Scottish heritage.

Thanksgiving: This American tradition is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, a time to gather with family and express gratitude for the bounty we have received.

Russian Orthodox Easter: This tradition is symbolized by painting eggs, usually red, as a remembrance of the blood Jesus shed on the cross. The eggs represent new life and are blessed by the church before being shared with others.

Growing up, my family had a special Christmas Eve tradition. We would attend the 4:00 PM Mass, have pizza for dinner, and open the gifts we had purchased for each other (in our parents' case, that usually amounted to new pajamas, robes, and slippers so we would be presentable for the Santa photos the following morning). That is a tradition that we passed on to our daughter, and she is passing it on to her family.

While traditions are important in families and cultures, they are equally crucial in companies.

Some of the benefits of establishing and carrying on traditions in companies are:

1. It Develops and Maintains a Culture - Traditions help to reinforce the beliefs and values an organization was founded on, and give employees a sense of identity.

2. It Maintains Continuity - Traditions link the current employees to the past and provide stability, and give the group a sense of connectedness to its history and legacy.

3. Recruitment and Retention - Well-known and time-honored traditions attract new thoughts and ideas to the organization. People want to be part of something that has meaning and value and that appreciates their connection to the organization.  

Whether it's a company, family, or heritage, traditions foster a positive and productive environment where people feel connected and part of something that provides meaning and value in their lives.

Please leave me a comment about your thoughts on the importance of traditions in a person's life. Your opinions and perspectives are important, and I'd enjoy hearing from you.