Traditions as social glue

Scott argues traditions form tribal social order and fuel anticipation during holidays.

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Transcript

Episode notes

I walk my dogs three times a day. Same times. Every single day.

It started once. Now it's a tradition. My dogs look at me like it's the law.

Traditions aren't just for holidays. They're the secret sauce that makes life special all year long. But somebody has to make them.

My neighbor Janice spends weeks decorating her house for Christmas. She's not just doing it for herself. She's making Christmas for everyone in the neighborhood.

Think about it. How many people are making traditions for you right now? And how many are you making for others?

Featured Story

My wife and I were walking the dogs when we stopped at Janice's house.

She was finishing up her Christmas decorations. Everything perfectly placed. Lights everywhere. The kind of display that makes you wonder where she stores it all.

I told her it looked like a lot of work. She said yeah, it takes a couple weeks. But it's her tradition. She loves doing it.

Then I said something that caught her off guard: "Thank you for making Christmas for the rest of us."

She didn't know what to say. She was out there doing what she loves, creating this tradition for her family. She wasn't thinking about the neighborhood waiting for her lights to go up.

But that's exactly what we do.

Important Points

Traditions are the secret sauce that makes life easier and creates emotional connections, not just during holidays but throughout the entire year.

Somebody has to make the tradition, and the makers are the ones who create special moments for everyone around them without even realizing it.

Traditions are just like habits and rituals, they make our lives more fulfilling, but you have to decide to be the person who creates them.

Memorable Quotes

"Traditions are a secret sauce. And it's not just the holidays, you had traditions in almost everything."

"Thank you for making Christmas for the rest of us."

"Whether it's Christmas or New Year's or any other time of the year, traditions are the same as habits and rituals. They make our lives more fulfilling, but always remember somebody has to make that tradition."

Scott's Three-Step Approach

Notice who's making traditions for you right now and actually thank them for it, because most people don't realize they're creating something special for everyone around them.

Decide to be a maker yourself and create traditions throughout the year, not just holidays, because that's where the real spice of life lives.

Understand that one time becomes all the time, so start something worth repeating and let it become the fabric of your life.

Chapter Notes

1:37 - Do you have traditions or change it up?

2:38 - Why traditions fuel emotional connection

3:26 - When the pandemic killed our traditions

4:29 - The makers who create everything special

5:34 - Walking dogs became a daily tradition

6:44 - Janice and the Christmas lights revelation

8:35 - Making traditions every single day

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