MORE ABOUT DAILY HABITS

September 24, 2024

If you’ve been following my recent blogs, you know I’ve taken a new path on my journey to “peace and happiness.” Whatever that looks like as I’m walking (running?) through my 80s.  I’ve shared how I like writing or speaking when I’ve come through a rough time, have worked it out, and can then share my wisdoms and victories.  This new path, as I recently said here, is to not wait till I’ve worked it out, but to share the here-and-now. To be vulnerable and share the journey and not just the shining end.

So, here’s what I’m thinking. Remember, I’ve been reading the book “You Are What You Love”, how the habits of our lives show what we really love or value?  So I’m on an experiment with myself to see how true that is for me, and also maybe discover something new about what I really do love. I’m pretty self-aware, so I don’t expect any real surprises, just maybe some new colors to what I already know about myself.

First, I made a chart, listing the things I wish I would do every day, things I “say” I love, stuff I just don’t get around to cause I’m too busy with other stuff that I think clutters my life.  The point at the beginning is to just simply do a thing every single day for a few months and see if it becomes a habit. A habit that I love doing so much it becomes as automatic as my morning cup of coffee. Doing it without having to force myself to do it cause I said I would or because I know it’s good for me. I could argue the opposite of what I just said, but remember, I’m testing the theory of the book.

My list is way too long, 16 items!  I know I will not incorporate all of them into my future days, but by doing them for a few months, or not doing them, I’m just looking for insights at this stage.

For example, I have “RUN” at the top. It’s not about how far, or at what speed. It’s just about getting up every morning, having a few sips of coffee and going out to my neighborhood and walk/running for 10-15 minutes. At first I dreaded it: “Oh no, I have to go run so I can check it off my list.” I actually had made a chart like we use for our children! 

I’ve been  doing this for about a month and now it’s automatic. I just get up every morning and do it, and actually miss it if I don’t. I’m adding distance, and increasing the number of blocks I run instead of super-fast walk. I think it is now a habit instead of a chore.

However, here’s the catch that surprised me. Can I now say I love to exercise? I’ve always acted like I do. I have a personal trainer even! I hike mountain trails, for goodness sake! But I have discovered that no, I do not love to exercise. 

Back to finding what I do love, and it’s this: I love to be healthy, to have energy. So I exercise every day, not because I love to exercise, but because I love being really healthy and energetic! That’s what I’ve learned and I feel really good about this! And I look forward to that run every morning!

I’ll tell you more about the other items on my list later, but that’s probably enough for now.

Oh, I’ve had my first session with my new counselor and though we haven’t unraveled this crazy ball of yarn that is my tangled thoughts, at least now I know the “colors” of each thread of yarn and that also feels really good. 

I hope your journey is becoming more clear to you and that you find what you love. May we each walk in who we really are with a new joy!