Why do we do what we do

by sherricrandall | Dec 8, 2025 | General

Why do we do what we do?

That’s a great question, isn’t it?! You might ask me, why do you celebrate the Dodgers winning the World Series when you’ve never lived in Los Angeles? Truth be told, I like watching baseball, but I’d much rather watch football or hockey. So why was I jumping off the couch when they won? The answer is simple and profound: Dodgers baseball reminds me of my grandparents.

Summer evenings spent at their house were punctuated by the cadence of baseball announcers, the background noise to our evenings. Those magical nights when the Dodgers were playing meant we got to eat dinner on TV trays in the living room, right in front of the television. A piping hot Salisbury steak TV dinner paired with an ice-cold ginger ale was pure childhood bliss. Players like Steve Garvey, Orel Hershiser, and Fernando Valenzuela were household names to me.

So when the Dodgers won the World Series a few weeks ago, my first instinct was to reach for the phone. I wanted to call my grandma and relive every moment, every play, every emotion just like we used to. The ache of not being able to make that call reminded me of something important: I don’t cheer for the Dodgers because of the city or even the sport. I cheer because every game is a way to keep my grandparents close, to honor their memory, and to hold onto those precious summer nights that shaped who I am.

This is the power of tradition. What started as simple summer evenings watching baseball became something far more meaningful. It’s a thread that connects me across time to the people I love. Family traditions, even seemingly small ones, play a remarkable role in shaping who we become and how we understand our place in the world.

Think about it this way: traditions are the stories we tell without words. When I cheer for the Dodgers, I’m not just rooting for a baseball team, I’m honoring my grandparents. I’m remembering the love they showed me. I’m keeping their memory alive in a tangible and joyful way.  When I share these stories with my own children, I am passing along more than just a team preference, I am sharing a small piece of their heritage.

The beautiful thing about traditions is that they don’t have to be elaborate or expensive to be meaningful. I think that consistency matters more than complexity. Whether it’s Sunday morning pancakes, annual holiday traditions, or yes, even rooting for a particular sports team, what makes traditions powerful is their predictability and the emotional connection they foster. Traditions become the moments we can count on when everything else feels uncertain.

Traditions also serve as bridges between generations. When we carry forward the practices of those who came before us, we’re honoring their lives and values. We’re saying, “You mattered, what you cared about matters, I remember.” This act of remembering is itself a profound gift, both to those who’ve gone before us and to those who will come after. It’s how we leave a positive legacy.

But here’s what’s really exciting: we’re not just recipients of tradition, we’re also creators of it. Every choice we make about what to celebrate, what to prioritize, and what to repeat is potentially laying the groundwork for future generations. The traditions we start today might be the cherished memories our grandchildren hold onto decades from now. What an incredible opportunity that is!

Maybe you have your own version of my Dodgers story. Maybe it’s your dad’s chili recipe that you make every autumn, or the way your family always watches a particular movie together during the holidays, or how you call your mom every Sunday morning. These aren’t just habits, they’re the building blocks of legacy. They’re the answer to “why do we do what we do?”

Traditions matter because love matters. Connection matters. Memories matter. When we honor the traditions passed down to us and create new ones for those who follow, we’re participating in something timeless. 

So the next time you find yourself doing something that might seem a little quirky to others, like celebrating a sports team you have no geographic reason to support, remember that you’re not being irrational, you’re being human. You’re honoring your story. You’re also building a bridge between past and future. And that’s not just important, I think it is beautiful! This holiday season, enjoy your own family traditions and maybe this is the year you start a brand new one.  Who knows, years from now, your grandchildren might be asking themselves, why do we do that?!