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I HAVE always been a little sketchy on the term ‘tradition’.
It’s not that I don’t understand its value in a lot of circumstances, it’s just that in many ways, I have learned to associate it with something negative. Maybe that is just me getting the idea of tradition and old outdated ideas confused.
I think many people will understand that considering we were upholding the ‘tradition’ of our constitution when we denied anyone but a straight man and woman the right to marriage. Thankfully, most ‘traditions’ or ideas like this are eventually erased, and we leave these things in the past.
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With my constant strive for positivity, I can’t deny that some traditions are still to be valued. I think there are small things in our society that will never change, and I think a lot of us are thankful for that stability. However, sometimes, we lose ourselves in the onslaught of new ideas and information and leave some important ‘traditions’ behind.
Now, you may have conjured up some other example of what I am trying to say, and if so feel free to share it; but I am talking about something as simple and as cliche as writing.
To clarify, I don’t mean it in the most basic sense. Because, technically, although I am doing so on a computer screen, I am technically writing right now. I actually am specifically referring too handwriting.
Ignoring any students that may be reading this right now; when was the last time any of you wrote anything down using an actual pen and paper?
If it was anytime recently, I truly applaud you.
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Anyone who is still in the school system has no choice but to write endless paragraphs in our varying scrawls every day of the week. But, when Summer or any holidays come, many people will not even hold a pen.
I would commend myself as an exception, but I have always been the sentimental type and spend the majority of my life writing away in a diary. A tradition that I like to uphold, so to speak.
Technology is everything nowadays and it is rare to meet someone over the age of 12 or under the age of 90 without some sort of electronic device. Actually I find myself meeting more and more 11 year olds with iPhones… but I guess that is besides the point.
Yes, I get it. Typing is faster, it’s easier and generally requires less effort. But where is the originality? Despite changing your font, how can you actually tell one person from the other?
Maybe it is as bizarre as believing in fortune telling, but I believe that you can tell a lot by a person’s handwriting. You can argue with me, but I don’t think you can dive deep into someone’s personality based on the emoji’s they use.
Nor do I believe that an e-card is quite as personal as a handwritten letter.I also don’t believe that an overflowing iCloud can compete with a box of cards and letters received over years. And frankly, I don’t think that emojis will be framed in museums one day.
I know that it may require more effort and more time, but I do believe that the tradition of actually writing things down with a good ol’ pen and paper shouldn’t be allowed to die out.
So, I hope that you enjoyed my opinion on the idea of tradition and if you have any feedback please write me a lovely long letter about it 😉
