Traditions Compound

It’s the middle of the night. 50 degrees. The sound of silence. I’m in a small tent with two little boys snuggled up to either side of me. I only have my phone to write. The battery is down to 10% and I have somewhere between zero and one bar of cell coverage. Will this post even upload?

I once had a friend give me two pieces of advice:

• Don’t be afraid to start new traditions.

• Let your traditions compound.

Whenever we lean into our traditions, we aren’t adding a new experience. We are multiplying impact. Each rep builds on the last. Something special starts to form.

The boys and I go on the same camping trip every year. We started when they were four; today they are nine. We do similar activities, live a similar schedule, and eat a predictable menu. However, each time is uniquely different. Each time is experienced through the lens of the persons we have grown into, and with the context of the past adventures.

The legend grows. The stories multiply. The reminiscing hits new levels. We all crave this trip, and the anticipation is sometimes as meaningful as the actual experience.

I love finding ways for our traditions to compound, and this trip is a constant reminder of just how real and powerful that concept is. I hope you, too, have some traditions in your life that can compound on you. It makes for a beautiful journey.