LOVE AND HATE

LOVE AND HATE

Everybody loves to travel…not true…I love traveling for a lot of reasons. Traveling breaks rituals and routines which is why some people don’t like to do it. I love that travel breaks my routine. I hate that travel breaks my routine. Confused? Keep reading.

Both ritualistic or routine-driven, accurately describe me. Were you a thief surveilling my house, it would take you exactly zero weeks to know my routine. Once a routine is established, I work to keep it going – one might call that discipline. Vacation – traveling, breaks the routine – I don’t like that. My morning of stretching, meditation, writing and reading requires a yoga mat, three or four books, two binders and an electronic device… "too much!” But I tell myself. “I need them.” I bit the bullet and left most of it behind on my last trip. Guess what? I didn’t write a single full page. I missed the accoutrements necessary for me to write and my appreciation for the habitual practice was renewed. As for the stretch portion of the morning ritual – a long flight helped me to ascertain that more is needed. Upper body strength is needed to place luggage in the overhead compartment and I struggled. In a nutshell, breaking routine helped me identify areas of my quest to actively manage my health that needs improving. I like discovering and addressing my weakness.

Three days into vacation, I finally slept late. I woke up gently and felt totally rested and relaxed. I noticed that my body was less achy – sore areas disappeared – I slept and woke up during the day when I wanted to. There wasn’t a self-imposed schedule to manage – no phone calls to answer – no requests to be filled. Routine was gone. It didn’t last! I started missing the daily rituals which bring structure to my life.

As the time drew near to come home, I became excited – I was going home. I was almost giddy when I walked into the “She Shed” and saw my stack of books and the yoga mat. My gym buddies and I greeted each other with enthusiasm upon my return to the gym. I fully expected to struggle having been away for two weeks. Instead, my body seemed to say “thank you” for breaking the routine so that it could reboot, rejuvenate and resurrect. My mind echoed the same sentiment.

Everything and everybody needs a break!

I read these words a day or so after writing about my love/hate relationship with routines. “An artist (we are all artist) must have downtime – time to do nothing.” Could this be called vacation?

Hebrews 4:9-11

PONDER THIS THOUGHT--- Take a break.