The importance of R

Routines are important to human beings.

We step into them, fall into them, choose them and become addicted to them without ever trying or knowing.

And that's not all bad, because some routines are very good for us and the bad ones can be dealt with by developing better, healthier ones.

Some people are very focused. They will do all the right things at the appropriate times without any kind of help. The rest of us need all the help we can get.

I am not a morning person. Just getting out of bed is the first hurdle of my day no matter how good I'm feeling. I like the warmth and comfort of my bed. Good things happen there. Still, I have to get up at some point and I have developed a routine that gets me through the morning hours as painlessly as possible.

I get up, go to the bathroom, change the litter box, fold my blanket,  make the bed, feed and water Annabel, take my medicine and make a cup of coffee. Then I sit down and enjoy it. It feels like this takes years, but in truth it is all over in less than fifteen minutes. After that I feel like I have already made major accomplishments and now have the whole day before me.

I once got into the routine of eating a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's ice cream while watching television every night. It took about a week for me to switch that over to a humongous, delicious salad that took a long time to eat, but ultimately gives me just as much enjoyment.

The secret is to find out what makes you really happy and factor in taste buds, pride, health, ego, and fun. That is how I get the most done in the most satisfying way I know. Somehow the hard things slip in between all the rest and life is a lot less cumbersome.