100 Days of Wonder – #44

As I was writing yesterday’s post, I was thinking about tradition. In some ways I am not a big fan of tradition. Tradition is so often away to cling to a status quo that doesn’t serve anyone well, to re-enforce the patriarchy, discriminatory power structures and harmful ideals. So nope, not a big fan of tradition in the sense. However, I like traditions in a looser sense. I like how we have things we do and I like that these mesh together our nostalgia, things that bring us joy now, things that make our souls sing and allow us to pause. I also like how those traditions move with the times and adapt. The Halloween decorations are an example, as is our run up to Christmas – which I will share more about as we get to it.

At Disney World we also have our little things we do. Well actually we have them even before we go – panning is part of it. I have a spreadsheet, we make lists, we look at hotel options and then we always stay at the Contemporary, we always walk across to the Magic Kingdom on the day of arrival and just walk round soaking up the wonder and joy, we sit in the Animal Kingdom and watch the Gibbons and I hang out while Kath rides Everest. We get competitive shooting aliens with Buzz Lightyear. We eat at the Crystal Palace before we have to head back to the airport on the last day. All of these little mini traditions that have developed over the last nearly 10 years ground us and I feel like they give me that 100 Acre Wood base from which to explore and try new things. Traditions are good if they bring us joy and empower us and if we are willing to break with tradition or change them as our perspectives on what brings us joy shifts.