Traditions, Choices, and the Joy of New Beginnings
Pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day has always been a tradition for us. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time we skipped it. Seriously, did we ever?
This year, though, we decided to break the tradition and try something new—a standing rib roast. On New Year’s Eve, we headed to Pittsburgh’s Strip District, where we found a gorgeous roast and some fresh rosemary and garlic to nestle into the meat. Together, we prepared and roasted the meat, savoring every step of the process. It felt like starting the new year with a little adventure—a small but meaningful act of choosing freedom from routine.
It’s not that we don’t love pork and sauerkraut. Truthfully, it’s one of our favorite meals. I even slow-cooked it the following weekend, filling the house with its comforting smell. But this break from the new year tradition got me thinking:
Why do we eat pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day? Is it for its German roots? For good luck? Or simply because it’s what our family has always done?
These patterns can extend into deeper areas of our lives. Have you ever considered your beliefs about things like:
Money: Are you spending or saving the way you truly want, or the way you were taught?
Vacations: Do you visit the same places because it’s expected, or because it’s meaningful to you?
Career Choices: Are you pursuing a path that fulfills you, or one that feels safe or approved by others?
Even your personality—how you express yourself—can be shaped by what others have said about you. Were you often told you’re shy, athletic, or creative? Or perhaps you heard the opposite, shaping how you see yourself today?
This year, we chose the rib roast. Next year, we might go back to sauerkraut, build on our new tradition, or try something completely different. The key is, whatever we choose, it will be intentional—not because someone told us, 'Oh, you have to eat sauerkraut for good luck.’
Traditions can be wonderful, but the real joy lies in the meaning and memories you create—not just the meal on your plate.
Unless, of course, it’s a rosemary and garlic standing rib roast. That joy speaks for itself.