On Tradition
I never use "Dear" when sending someone an email. I know using "Dear" is stemmed from tradition at this point but it always feels too personal for me. I think it's because I associate "dear" with "beloved".
When sending someone an email, I try to use "Hi, XYZ" when it calls for a slightly informal tone, and just skip salutations altogether and say "Sir XYZ" or "Ma'am XYZ" followed by a colon when an email calls for more formality.
I also cringe when using "Yours" as a closing salutation. I'm trying to veer away from using it. It's almost the same as "Dear". I am not yours, nor are you mine. I know, again, it's tradition, but it's weird. I try to use "Thanks", "Respectfully", or "Best wishes". At least those are more meaningful.
In the same vein, I also feel weird being called "Attorney" before my name. I prefer "Sir" if you have to show respect or you know what, just use my name (but not my nickname if we are not close). Whenever my officemates refer to me as Attorney, I always correct them and just use my name inside the office. An officemate acquiesced, but said she'll still call me "Attorney" or "Sir" when people outside the office are present. That seems reasonable. Anyway, I know it's a mark of significance and tradition for other lawyers, but again, I always feel it's weird, like my entire being has been minimized to being a lawyer.
I get tradition, I do, but some things that we do "just because" are just odd. A friend told me that it depends on the context. For example, if you are my client, calling me "Attorney" doesn't seem too far fetched because that's all I am to you. Same with handshakes, bowing, or the "mano po" Filipino tradition, which makes sense if you genuinely feel to do them as a mark of respect or greeting, but become more meaningless as it becomes a chore and something you do "just because".