I get it. Routines can be boring and monotonous. The word reeks of no autonomy or spontaneity. Where is the fun in that? Is there even creativity in that?
However, our challenge now, in the midst of change, uncertainty, and wild discomfort, is Routine. A settling in to yourself, your needs, your community, and the time/resources at your collective fingertips. It is an invitation to slow down, reset the dopamine receptors in your brain, and actively create the person, life, and society you desire.
Routine is where you discover what you have and what you still need, while gaining understanding of the time and devotion it will take to get there. It is the moment of reflection and celebration of progress, sometimes slow and difficult, sometimes miraculous and impressive. It offers a chance to look deeper, double-check, and move with tenacity and intention.
In the moments that rattle you, shake you, or fill you with a burning rage, Routine offers regulation, possibly stillness, and a reminder that you are here and you matter.
How you build your routines should center you, not work or external forces, but the internal compass that knows your true north. Perhaps its more exercise, trips to the library, or making time for your loved ones. Follow your ideas and make more room for serendipity to find you when you are where you should be. Then watch, as your routines become rituals and moments of expansion.
-scottie.
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