I believe there are a lot of ways to look at being Traditional Catholic, for those not born into Tradition, in the world we live in. I think, first and foremost, we must realize what great grace we've been given. I still, after so many years, cannot get my head around that one. We are so blessed, by God's grace, and I believe first and foremost, its vital we realize this.
What we choose to do with this, of course, is an entirely different matter. I don't believe that the experience of turning into a Traditional Catholic, is automatic. There's no switch, and "POOF!" you're all of a sudden a Trad. Amongst other things, its a process of reading, prayer, sacraments, and disdain for the world. Of course, the Mass, is a foundation for most in "seeing the light"; but I think, looking back, I find it quite juvenile to think it was only about the mass. This isn't to downplay the importance of the highest prayer we have, but apart from simple Catechism, which I'm embarrassed to admit I'd disregarded in my early days as a trad, there is a profoundly different state of mind required in being a Traditional Catholic which truly sets one apart from the world. Its this Catholic state of mind in which I continue to strive for and truly find beauty.
Its being able to see EVERYTHING with Catholic eyes. I'm not sure about everyone else, but it wasn't automatic for me. To be certain, I knew I love Christ, his Church, Mother and saints, but being under a torrent of moral and spiritual attack for so many years by the world and an impostor Rite truly had taken its tole on me, so that when I first converted, many things I did not see. At a certain point, I am sorry to admit, I attempted to intertwine the world with my Faith. I thought that I could somehow live in both worlds. I mean, I thought I could still do things like go to Vegas, get inebriated, not pray the rosary with my family, and be Catholic. It didn't work. I really see now, to be Catholic, isn't difficult, it only takes what seems like a difficult decision, at the time, to continue to learn and grow.
I am still so far away from where I would like to be as a Catholic, yet I believe I'm also right where I should be because I don't believe we ever stop in our spiritual growth. There are things, WEEKLY, which I try to change about myself. Sometimes I fail, sometimes I succeed, sometimes I'm discouraged, and other times I feel a strong sense of Christ's love. What I know is that it is His will that I try to let guide me.
Being on this board, I believe, is priceless for me. I feel that it balances a lot of people out many times. Where many times there are polemical exchanges, you have people like Matthew and Hobbledehoy who can many times step in and share their knowledge objectively, yet respectfully and be a great example for the rest of us. You also have people like Raoul and Caminus who have a wealth of knowledge and insight, which I (at least) would never be exposed to anywhere else. There's so much knowledge here to be found. There's also a lack of exclusiveness you find on many other Trad websites. We are free to exchange ideas, even if we disagree amongst ourselves, and even the Moderators.