Alison Byrd: The Power of Rituals

    Rituals are often thought of as ancient or religious ceremonies, structured actions performed in a specific order to mark a moment of transformation or connection. Many rituals started in religious communities: baptisms for spiritual rebirth, prayers for protection, or ceremonies to honor the passing of the loved one. But rituals do not just belong to religion. Overtime, they have evolved into everyday practices, like a nightly routine, a workout habit, or even the way we celebrate birthdays. Whether big or small, rituals give shape to our lives and help us find meaning in the ordinary.

    In class, we explored this theme through the film Cold Fever. The movie follows a Japanese man who travels to Iceland to perform a memorial service for his parents. Along his journey, he meets eccentric characters and witnesses local rituals that, at first, seem odd or unnecessary to him. He brushes them off, focused only on completing his own task. But as he begins to perform his own ritual, something shifts. He starts to understand that rituals, no matter how unfamiliar, hold deep meaning for the people who practice them. They connect us to others, to tradition, and to the parts of ourselves that words can not always reach.

    This idea made me reflect on the rituals in my own life. While I have never been someone who lives by a strict schedule, I have started to recognize how even small routines can create stability and purpose. Simple things like my nighttime routine, working out, or setting time aside to study before exams have become grounding practices. They have helped shift me from being more laid back and reactive to becoming more balanced and prepared. I am not perfect, I still have a long way to go, but these small rituals have helped me move in the right direction.

    What Cold Fever taught me, and what I have started to learn personally, is that rituals do not have to be big to matter. They are a way of honoring the present, creating structure in the chaos, and reminding ourselves of what matters. Whether it is a memorial service in a snowy Icelandic landscape or brushing your teeth and stretching before bed, these small acts carry power. They give rhythm to our lives, help us cope, and sometimes, they even help us heal.

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