Just thinking ...out loud

I love tradition, but not just all tradition; not tradition simply for tradition’s sake. Why don’t more people question tradition? Some “traditions” have no clear purpose. It’s just doing something because we’ve always done it! That I question. Why do women wear heels? And men wear ties? Because fashion dictates it? Neither practice has any clear purpose. Women talk about the discomfort of heels, but they’re afraid to break “tradition” and not wear them to work or to an event. Events or work appear to demand a tie from men. Why? It’s a fashion! Not a necessity. Men once wore knickers and three-cornered hats…fashion changed and that’s no longer the norm. So why are men Still wearing ties? We can pull up old pictures, early 1900s or even as late as the 1920s, and men are wearing white shirts, sometimes with ties! And they’re sitting on a tractor or behind a horse and plow! Fashion is a funny thing. Why do people follow fashion dictates? That’s what it is a dictate! Someone, somewhere decided this piece of clothing is appropriate and necessary, but for no particular purpose. Fortunately, I guess, we can use those fashion dictates to determine what year that picture may have been taken. We can learn what era our ancestor lived or worked. I’ve collected books to help me unravel the mystery in those pictures. Then, of course, they end up on the shelves serving no purpose, because I lost interest in that particular mystery. What traditions do we faithfully continue without question? Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, of course. That’s more than tradition. That’s part of the calendar of life. That’s how we build memories and, of course, create and maintain traditions. But gift-giving? How often do we follow tradition or start new ones? Commercially, business promotes an avalanche of gifts for every holiday, not just the traditional ones. And do we follow suit? Of course, it’s a new tradition! Secretaries Day, Grandparents Day, gender reveal or sip-n-see (to introduce a new little one) Women’s Day, friendship day. Is there a neighbors day or cousins day, maybe co-workers’ day? Businesses are always looking for a new gift-giving occasion. It’s good business! But why do we follow along? And why do we need a suggested occasion to give a gift to anyone? Or wear heels or a tie? Am I the only one who questions tradition for tradition’s sake? You must have some suggestions. But have you ever questioned them? Or broke tradition or refused a new one?