Tradition often carries an aura of reverence. It’s what ties generations together, what gives cultures their shape, and what offers familiarity in an ever-changing world. But when stripped of sentimentality, some traditions can begin to look less like meaningful heritage and more like unexamined habits inherited from people long gone.

At its core, tradition is a set of practices or beliefs handed down over time. The problem is not tradition itself—it’s when those practices go unquestioned. When we do something simply because “that’s how it’s always been done,” we stop being active participants in our own lives and start becoming passive reenactors of someone else’s values.

This is where the phrase “peer pressure from dead people” begins to resonate. Many traditions were created in contexts vastly different from ours. What may have served a purpose in a different era may now be irrelevant, limiting, or even harmful. Yet, the emotional weight of honoring ancestors or respecting elders can prevent people from critically evaluating the systems they perpetuate.

Questioning tradition is not an act of rebellion—it’s an act of reflection. It’s about asking: Does this still serve us? Does it align with who we are now? Is it creating connection or division? Growth or stagnation?

Some traditions hold immense beauty and wisdom. Others are cultural relics that need to be retired. The challenge is to discern the difference. Honor the past, but do not be ruled by it. Legacy should be a guide, not a leash.

In the end, the most meaningful traditions are those we choose with awareness, not those we follow by default.