One of my favorite musicals is “Fiddler on the Roof”. In it, the main character Tevye, struggles to hold on to old traditions as the world and his family move forward. Like Tevye, I have always been a big fan of traditions. Doing the same thing on holidays, wearing the same thing to Packers games and eating the same thing at my favorite restaurants. However, lately, I have learned to add a few twists to traditions.

 One example is an event we started a few years back on my father-in-laws birthday, Shrimpfest! Jim is a shripaholic. He would eat shrimp every day of his life if it was possible. So, on his birthday we feed his addiction by preparing as many shrimp dishes as we can imagine. The first couple years it was pretty standard with the same recipes. However, in the past couple years we have added to it with new preparations, and new people invited to the day It has added so much to the fun. In the past, that would have bothered me a little. Now, I learned to embrace the changes and realize that they make the day even better.

Look for ways to make your traditions like new.