![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
“Make today count”
“You are the master of your own destiny”
“Even the tallest tree started off as a tiny seed”
I’m sure you’ve heard all of these expressions before, and probably a truckload of others like them. And if you’re anything like me, you probably read them and then have to suppress the urge to barf. Why? Well, it’s obvious -
They are dorky!
They are hokey!
They are silly!
They are cutesy-wootsy-saccharine-sweet!
But ya know what else? They’re also true.
I had a brief chat the other day with a buddy of mine, and it really got my wheels turning about this. The fact is, life isn’t always easy. Any of us who have reached this point known as “middle-age or thereabouts” haven’t arrived here easily – none of us have. Sure, some had easier journeys than others. Some had a tumultuous trip. And yet others never made it. But here we are. And with each and every day, whether we realize it or not, we have a choice. We can either become stagnant, complacent, and discontent having ended up where we are – or we can do something to make a difference. And this applies to each and every one of us – regardless of how torturous a journey we faced in getting here.
Sometimes, these changes are huge – moving across country to start a new life – quitting your job in search of a new path or career – leaving your friends and family behind to seek out new adventure. Other times, these changes are subtle, but nonetheless poignant – quitting smoking – stepping away from alcohol – changing your eating habits – taking a break from caffeine.
For some of us, change is never easy. Speaking as a creature-of-habit, I tend towards patterns. I like to sit in the same chair. I like the same breakfast. I do certain things at certain times of the day like clockwork. And in many ways, I get a sense of comfort from “the routine”. But here’s the thing about routines – after a while, they become so… so… routine. And there’s a fine-line between following a routine and being stuck in a rut. And when one gets stuck in a rut, it can sometimes be hard to break free.
So how does one break free? Does one need to do a Great Big Huge Ginormous thing to break free from the routine? No. And that’s the coolest thing. Sometimes, all it really takes to wake up from the haze is to make a conscious choice to do something different. It can be really small and easy. But here’s the key thing - when you do that different thing – make a point to open yourself up to observation. As nutso as that may sound, you might really surprise yourself at how much of an impact that can make.
Let’s say you are religiously a coffee drinker – drink tea for a day instead. And when you sip the tea, give some thought to it. Do you like the taste? Whether you do or not, reflect upon it. Let’s say you have a 30 minute drive to work if you take the highway. If you can – even if it involves leaving a little bit earlier – take surface streets one morning. And when you do, look around you. Are you seeing some new construction in the area? Did someone paint their house a different color? Is there a new restaurant that opened up that you might be interested in visiting? When you go grocery shopping and you find yourself in the produce section, instead of getting the same vegetables that you get each and every time you shop, grab something different. Even if you don’t know what the heck it is, make the purchase and try it. Sure, you might end up absolutely hating it. But how will you know if you don’t try it? You might just find that you like it.
In life, it is so important to remember to allow yourself some new experiences. Occassionally shaking up the routine is just enough of a catalyst to make you reevaluate other parts of your life. So try shaking things up. Move your furniture around. Clean up some area of the house that has been neglected. Go and visit a new store or restaurant. Take a walk down a street that you don’t normally travel. See a foreign movie. Try a different flavor. You really DO have control of your own destiny. And if you feel yourself getting a bit stagnant, brush off the dust and try something new.
“You are the master of your own destiny”
“Even the tallest tree started off as a tiny seed”
I’m sure you’ve heard all of these expressions before, and probably a truckload of others like them. And if you’re anything like me, you probably read them and then have to suppress the urge to barf. Why? Well, it’s obvious -
They are dorky!
They are hokey!
They are silly!
They are cutesy-wootsy-saccharine-sweet!
But ya know what else? They’re also true.
I had a brief chat the other day with a buddy of mine, and it really got my wheels turning about this. The fact is, life isn’t always easy. Any of us who have reached this point known as “middle-age or thereabouts” haven’t arrived here easily – none of us have. Sure, some had easier journeys than others. Some had a tumultuous trip. And yet others never made it. But here we are. And with each and every day, whether we realize it or not, we have a choice. We can either become stagnant, complacent, and discontent having ended up where we are – or we can do something to make a difference. And this applies to each and every one of us – regardless of how torturous a journey we faced in getting here.
Sometimes, these changes are huge – moving across country to start a new life – quitting your job in search of a new path or career – leaving your friends and family behind to seek out new adventure. Other times, these changes are subtle, but nonetheless poignant – quitting smoking – stepping away from alcohol – changing your eating habits – taking a break from caffeine.
For some of us, change is never easy. Speaking as a creature-of-habit, I tend towards patterns. I like to sit in the same chair. I like the same breakfast. I do certain things at certain times of the day like clockwork. And in many ways, I get a sense of comfort from “the routine”. But here’s the thing about routines – after a while, they become so… so… routine. And there’s a fine-line between following a routine and being stuck in a rut. And when one gets stuck in a rut, it can sometimes be hard to break free.
So how does one break free? Does one need to do a Great Big Huge Ginormous thing to break free from the routine? No. And that’s the coolest thing. Sometimes, all it really takes to wake up from the haze is to make a conscious choice to do something different. It can be really small and easy. But here’s the key thing - when you do that different thing – make a point to open yourself up to observation. As nutso as that may sound, you might really surprise yourself at how much of an impact that can make.
Let’s say you are religiously a coffee drinker – drink tea for a day instead. And when you sip the tea, give some thought to it. Do you like the taste? Whether you do or not, reflect upon it. Let’s say you have a 30 minute drive to work if you take the highway. If you can – even if it involves leaving a little bit earlier – take surface streets one morning. And when you do, look around you. Are you seeing some new construction in the area? Did someone paint their house a different color? Is there a new restaurant that opened up that you might be interested in visiting? When you go grocery shopping and you find yourself in the produce section, instead of getting the same vegetables that you get each and every time you shop, grab something different. Even if you don’t know what the heck it is, make the purchase and try it. Sure, you might end up absolutely hating it. But how will you know if you don’t try it? You might just find that you like it.
In life, it is so important to remember to allow yourself some new experiences. Occassionally shaking up the routine is just enough of a catalyst to make you reevaluate other parts of your life. So try shaking things up. Move your furniture around. Clean up some area of the house that has been neglected. Go and visit a new store or restaurant. Take a walk down a street that you don’t normally travel. See a foreign movie. Try a different flavor. You really DO have control of your own destiny. And if you feel yourself getting a bit stagnant, brush off the dust and try something new.
