On The Other Hand...

I write this month’s blog just a day after completing multiple performances of Fiddler

on the Roof through my local community theater organization. I was blessed to have

been cast as the lead role (a dream of mine for many years) and for those unfamiliar

with the plot – I’ll give you a very quick overview: The story follows a father, Tevye,

as he navigates his way through life. Circumstances – some of which are regarding

the decisions his daughters are making and others are tied to the political climate of

the time – challenge Tevye to navigate between holding on to traditions and adapting

to something new.

It is a beautiful story, with great music, thought-provoking dialogue and themes that

are as relevant today as they were when it first appeared on Broadway in 1964.

I have written before about my affinity for traditions and the deep sense of

connection I find with my past through them. Cultural, family and religious traditions

can serve to enrich our lives. Paradoxically, we can also find ourselves holding on to

old patterns or routines that we know aren’t necessarily in our best interest. From the

seemingly innocuous, “Eating too much junk food on Super Bowl Sunday is what I do

every year!” to things that may perhaps be more problematic, “What else am I

supposed to do when I get together with the guys? We get after it just like in the old

days!”.

How do we strike the appropriate balance? And how do we talk to others about risky

or unhealthy patterns that they may characterize merely as “traditions”? In Fiddler,

Tevye has a number of monologues in which he processes both sides of an issue out

loud to the audience. Each is characterized by him bouncing back and forth on the

topic by arguing with himself, “On the other hand…and on the other hand…” until

he finally reaches his conclusion.

I think old Tevye is onto something there. Without anyone taking a clear position in

which he would feel obligated to “dig in” to his stance, he stepped away. He created

space for himself to objectively weigh both sides.

What conversation could you benefit from having with yourself? Give yourself that

gift – to honestly examine the topic from both sides. You may find that things are

perfectly fine the way they are – or on the other hand…