Traditions Matter

Traditions.  Those really important things we do to make the holidays (or any of life’s adventures) more special.

One of my favorite traditions growing up was from Thanksgiving.  My dad and I would cook Thanksgiving dinner together every year.  Well, I guess we prepared all the food for the day; from the meat and cheese platter that we would indulge ourselves on during the Detroit Lions football game, to our big Thanksgiving dinner.  It was just my Dad and me in the kitchen.  It was the one day out of the year that my Dad and I were guaranteed to not fight or be awkward around each other.  No matter how awful I was as a teenager (which was pretty awful most of the time) my Dad and I were always able to put everything aside and we just meshed so well in the kitchen.

We would wake up early to get the turkey cooking.  Cutting potatoes to get them boiling for mashed potatoes.  The creamed corn casserole, my Dad’s famous dressing, my favorite green bean casserole, rolls, cranberries, and so much more!

There was one year that I missed this amazing tradition with my Dad.  On November 19th 2007, I had attempted suicide by overdosing on a cocktail of pills.  I was having a really rough time with life, I was hurt, depressed, suffering.  I just didn’t see any other way to make things better for myself and those that I was hurting from the choices I was making.  I ended up spending my Thanksgiving that year in the pediatric wing of a mental health hospital.  Missing that year was really emotional on me and my Dad (now that I think about it, that year was really emotional for all of my family).  Thanksgiving just didn’t feel the same.

Traditions keep things alive.  They make life have a little more meaning.  It strengthens relationships by bringing all of us closer.  It captures great memories that we’ll all hold on to forever.  They are something we can pass down to our kids and grandkids as the years continue.  Traditions matter.