“Ancient roots are no more sacred or important than new growth.”
So said esteemed author Anita Diamant (The Red Tent) in an address to my community a couple of years ago. The statement moved me and I recorded it in my “memos” on my phone to remember it. Recently, energized by a bout of “fall cleaning”, I reviewed all my memos to see if I could clear out some cobwebs and old, unused content taking up space. I came across this gem and was again reminded of the importance and utility of BALANCE in increasing and maintaining happiness in life.
Fall is a time when many of us experience thoughts of renewal, tradition, and cycles in life. From back to school, to the Jewish holidays, to the shortening hours of sun each day, this season seems to represent a change and often a turn to introspection or “deeper” endeavors, in contrast to the carefree and indulgent whimsy-filled days of summer. I find myself refocusing on projects and responsibilities waylaid or set aside in the enjoyment of long summer days and languid nights. And it feels better to work and to focus now, than it did at the end of the winter, after my refreshing schedule shift over the summer. It’s a balance!
It’s funny how much humans tend to be “all or nothing” about things. I have realized that although I do great work in spurts, I am much less generative when I set aside an entire day to “be productive.” Yet I persist in thinking I need to carve out a full day to really “get stuff done.” What I think I need– what works for me– are days that BALANCE hard focused work with play and other activities.
We grapple around my house with how traditional (or lacking in!) we choose to be as a family. Anita’s words remind me that all choices can be powerful if we approach them that way… that any ancient ritual we choose to practice can enhance and deepen our bonds with each other and our sense of humanity, and that any shift in tradition or embrace of spontaneity and innovation can do the same thing albeit for different reasons.
My husband and I love to go out to dinner and evenings were always one of our favorite times to be together. When our daughter was very young, we would spend hours together as a family in the morning and over breakfast, and my husband and I went out many nights during the week. I struggled a little with not adhering to the societally-adored tradition of family dinners, but we realized breakfast could work just as well as long as it worked for us. Now the combination of leaving earlier for school plus homework and activities has returned us more to the norm of family time occuring largely in the evening and we are fine with it. It was a highly rewarding process for us, however, to invent our own “new growth” when it made sense.
Where in life do you draw strength and joy from following ancient traditions? And what kinds of new growth bring you the most stimulation and satisfaction? Do you embrace both paths with ease or struggle with one or the other? Please let us know how you achieve balance and happiness in carving your life’s path… or if you have a struggle, how we as a community might be able to help!
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