What Are Family Traditions?
The dictionary defines entropy as “the steady degradation of a system or society.” Imagine how the entropic effect is multiplied by the forces of the physical and social weather we’re trying to navigate our families in. That’s why it is so necessary for every family to take the time to renew itself in the Four Pillars of Resilience : mental, physical, social and spiritual.
This is the exact same principle as in aviation. Aircraft have a need for constant refueling and maintenance. Pilots and crew need continual dedicated time for their training and upgrading of their skill levels. Even the most veteran pilots constantly practice the elemental and beginning steps and keep constantly updated on new technology in order to be current and prepared.
Family traditions include rituals and celebrations and meaningful events that you do in your family. They help you understand who you are: that you are part of a family that’s a strong unit, that you love one another, that you respect and honor one another, that you celebrate one another’s birthdays and special events, and make positive memories for everybody.
The Four Pillars of Resiliency
Mental: Approaching life’s challenges in a positive way by demonstrating self-control, stamina and good character with choices and actions; seeking help and offering help.
Physical: Performing and excelling in physical activities that require aerobic fitness, endurance, strength, flexibility and body composition derived through exercise, nutrition and training.
Social: Developing and maintaining trusted, valued friendships that are personally fulfilling and foster good communication, including exchange of ideas, views and experiences.
Spiritual: Strengthening a set of beliefs, principles or values that sustain an individual’s sense of well-being and purpose. Spiritual fitness is about having a sense of purpose and meaning in your life. It’s as essential to an individual’s resiliency as esprit de corps is vital to a unit’s mission accomplishment.
Through traditions you reinforce the connection of the family. You give a feeling of belonging, of being supported, of being understood. You are committed to one another. You are a part of something that’s greater than yourself. You express and show loyalty to one another.
In addition, in a family, any renewal activity done together builds relationships as well. For example, family members who exercise together not only build their individual physical strength and endurance but they also increase bonding through doing physical activity together. Family members who read together multiply both learning and bonding through discussing and “piggybacking” ideas. Family members who worship and serve together strengthen one another’s faith as well as their own. They become more unified and connected as they join together in a sacred expression of things that are important to them all.
Sharpening the Saw
Imagine for a moment that you’re trying to chop down a tree. You’re swinging through this huge, thick tree trunk. Back and forth, back and forth you pull the heavy saw. You’ve been laboring at it all day. You’ve hardly stopped for a minute. You’ve been working and sweating, and now you’re about halfway through. But you’re feeling so tired that you don’t see how you’re going to last another five minutes. You pause for a minute to catch your breath.
You look up and see another person a few yards away who has also been sawing a tree. You can’t believe your eyes! This person has sawed almost completely through his tree trunk! He started about the same time you did and his tree is about the same size as yours, but he stopped to rest every hour or so while you kept working away. Now, he’s almost through, and you’re only halfway there.
“What’s going on?” You ask incredulously. “How in the world have you gotten so much more done that I have? You didn’t even stay with it all the time. You stopped to rest every hour! How come?”
The man turns and smiles. “Yes,” he replies. “You saw me stop every hour to rest, but what you didn’t see was that every time I rested, I also sharpened the saw!”