I admit it. I went down the rabbit hole for this one.  I started looking online and that big, black, rabbit hole opened and I started digging.   I’d still be there, scaping at the earth, were it not for needing to meet the deadline for this Musing.

 I pulled myself out and started to sort through the pile of factoids that I had uncovered and the words and notes I had written during my search.  Eventually, I realised that I was looking at a trail, of words, ideas, concepts.  That one led to another, that they branched off and out into new areas and new trails and that this was my means to find inspiration.

Somewhat sorted out, but not entirely, I note my trail to inspiration.

Habits: Good, Bad, New, Old. Nun’s habit, Monk’s habit, Riding Habit.  A way of being: psychology – A usual way of behaving, actions that are regular and repeated, reinforcement, repetition, reward, learned rather than innate. Custom, practice, usage, wont, implied to be unconscious and compulsive. Clothing, dress, attire, identifiable clothing, appropriate to the activity to be undertaken, a uniform or costume characteristic of a calling, rank or function. Items distinctive to the activity, signifying the position of the wearer and their role within society, respect for the uniform, the institution, the organisation. Clothing and embellishments that signify important messages – medals, braid, chevrons, oak leaves, ribbons, sashes, brooches, colours, regalia, insignia, respect, paraphernalia, accoutrements.

I began to think about a habit that becomes so ingrained within us, and widespread within the community, that it becomes embedded in our culture, reflected in our daily lives, a tradition.

I recently made a quilt for an exhibition.  I made it from (mainly) recycled, thrifted tartan wool fabric.  I cut it up and made my own re-engineered, personal tartan.  I was thinking of this as I followed my trail to inspiration for this prompt.  I think tartan exemplifies the idea of a habit that has been embedded in a culture and become a tradition which represents many of the elements within a society.