Embrace the beauty...
*NOTE: A big THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to comment on my previous post, Redundancy And The Things It Brings. It means a lot to read such kind words.*
“Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans” – John Lennon
Routines are there to keep us in order, right?
And order helps us out, it provides us with a set system to follow, things to do, and we get a sense of accomplishment because things have gone to plan and we feel good about it. “That was a productive day yesterday, I felt good about it, because I got to check off most things on my to-do list.”
These senses of order, these routines, even follow us when we go on vacation – we have a set plan of things to do, sights to see, beaches to sunbathe on. We go away from home to ‘get away from home’, but we don’t get away from our sense of routine. Sure, we get away from the routines that we had set up for home, but not the idea of a routine.
Lori talked about this in her post before she went on holiday – leaving the routine of managing her site behind, and venturing to places new. But then what happens when we decide to take a break from these routines, and leave our vacations to chance?
We may suddenly feel confused, anxious, and afraid. What to do with a break in Rome when we can’t check our e-mails? What to do in a rural area where we can’t grab an Espresso? As Jens has recently explored, can we live without electricity itself?
We can’t do the things we’re used to, and so life becomes difficult. All of a sudden, life has become complex and disorientating, because we’re now living something a little…different.
The Circle Of Routine
And it’s not just time away from home that can catch us unawares – whenever we have an unexpected break in our routine, we feel unsure of ourselves and try to reject it:
- A friend calls us without warning and we talk for an hour. Once we hang up, we curse them for messing up our day.
- We try to watch our favourite TV programme but the kids are drawing on the walls. We then admonish them for disturbing our TV time.
- The boss places some unexpected chores on us, completely ruining our set plan for work that day.
- When we try to have a shower, the showerhead breaks, and we become annoyed at having to worry about that instead.
- On a Saturday, the car breaks down, and we have to change our plans for the weekend.
All of these situations, and many more, have the same effect on us – they changed our routine without our consent, and now we have to adjust ourselves to fit this unexpected situation in. More often than not, this adjustment is met with rejection and denial –we hope the problem will just go away by itself.
This scenario then becomes a circle – we have a break in routine, we (eventually) accept it and sort it out. We then try to get back into our old routine, then another situation occurs, and we again reject it. We then eventually accept it, and so on. The circle rolls on.
Here’s an example of a long-term routine that I held.
My Life Before Sam
As some of you may be aware, I’m in a relationship with a wonderful, beautiful girl named Sam. She means a lot to me, and the past eight months since we’ve been together have felt incredible and right. And if you could follow her on Twitter by clicking her name, that would be great, thanks.
But what was my life like before I met Sam? Well, for eighteen months I was single, having split up with my previous girlfriend around June 2009. Eighteen months is a long time, and it’s definitely long enough to set up some routines.
I got into the habits of waking up in the mornings, doing my morning routines, heading off to work, coming back, chilling out in the evenings, maybe some socialising, and then bed. That was it for about eighteen months, and although I didn’t fully realise it at the time, this routine was slowly draining the life out of me.
Thankfully, I made the decision to get some spark back into my life, and I joined Union Theatre, the local amateur dramatics group which I’m still part of now. And of course, it was here that I met Sam.
In fact, I think the decision to join the group and meet a whole bunch of new people was because my spirit had had enough of the same boring routine for so many months, and subtly dropped the idea of joining such a group into my head as a way of snapping me out of my routine.
But I resisted at first. Although I was happy enough to join the group and make new friends, I wasn’t prepared to commit to a relationship. At the time, it seemed like too much hard work, and so when I started talking with Sam, the idea of falling in love with her seemed pretty alien. I just wanted to be friends.
Then the months rolled on, and it came to the end of my first play with the group. Sam and I were quite close at this point, and I was seriously considering throwing caution to the wind and asking her out. Before I had the chance to do so, or change my mind and chicken out, one of our mutual friends played ‘matchmaker’ at the aftershow party, and bought the two of us closer together.
From there, the rest is history.
The Fear At The Back
That indecision that I had with Sam was not caused because of my lack of self-esteem in myself, or my fear that she might not like who I was. Rather, it was caused by my deep reluctance to give up my comfy routine and dedicate myself to another person. It was a big step.
It’s this big step that puts so many people off from doing what they truly love to do. Sure, everyone wants to have more money, and to live the life of their dreams. But only a small minority will actually do what is necessary to generate the life that they want. Why? Because they’re afraid to change. They’re afraid to ditch their routine.
We’re creatures of habit, and we’re creatures of comfort. If change comes about, our initial reaction is to resist it, until it proves itself as something that will benefit us. If it doesn’t benefit us, why should we adopt it? As Srini calls it, why go through the adjustment period? After all, what we’ve got at the moment is working for us pretty well, why should we fix it if it isn’t broken?
Well, here in lies the dilemma – our lives could be lived out through the same levels of comfort and security for as long as we wish. We can be as small and as safe as we want. But sooner or later, something is going to start calling. Just like with my decision to change my life after so long, your spirit/soul will decide that it’s time for a change, whether you like it or not.
Have you ever had moments where you feel like you ought to be doing so much more than you currently are? That’s your spirit calling out to you, calling for change, and for a new direction. It wants to shake the cobwebs off. But what most people do, is resist.
They resist the calling, they resist the change. “It seems like too much hard work”, they say. That will never work. Why bother? They can’t see the immediate payoff of the ‘other way’, so they don’t even try. And so, they don’t get anywhere close to realising their dreams.
It’s Time For Life
In my previous post, Redundancy And The Things It Brings, there was a comment left by Marcus Sheridan where he talked about ‘making that switch’, to taking your blog seriously. This is what I’m doing – treating my blog seriously, but you know what else I’m doing?
I’m ditching my routine. I’m embracing life.
I’ve decided to cut back on the routine aspect of blogging, and just go for it. Do what I truly want to do, and see what happens. This change was hard to make at first, because I wasn’t ready for it. I was too comfortable in my routine of posting/commenting/guest posting.
But now, I’m shaking things up. And I want you to shake things up too.
So it’s time for life. It’s time to recognise what you’re doing in your life that has become stale, a stagnant routine that has become embedded, and shake it up. Mix things up a little bit. Clear out the old routines and open up your time, your personality, and your life for the new. For the change.
In my guest post for John Falchetto, I talked about grabbing opportunities when they appear. If you like, click the link and head on over to my post, and then check out the rest of John’s posts as he provides a lot of value and inspiration in his writings.
Once you’re done, come back here and leave a comment. Leave a comment telling me that you’re going to uncover the routines that you’ve got embedded in your life, and that you’re going to get rid of those that no longer work.
Some routines no longer serve us as effectively as they once did, and that’s normal. Change happens all the time, and so some routines will lose their potential. Once this happens, it’s best to remove them, and start doing new things that match what you want out of life.
So let’s shake it up! Please leave a comment and share how you’re going to mix things up in your life. We’re all eager to hear what you’ve got to say!
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Image courtesy of babasteve
{ 56 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Stu,
Firstly, thank you so much for the mention – it really does mean a lot to me.
The past 8 months have been amazing for me too and its been great to watch you change and become the most wonderful, amazing guy that you are today and i’m so glad that I can be a part of it.
It’s good to have a routine in place, but it’s also good to do things on the ‘spur of the moment’ or off the ‘cuff’ as they say. Change is good and it sometimes helps us to become a better person.
Once again, its another great post (i’m not biased at all)
Thank you for all you’ve done for me and for helping me become the person I am today! Let’s hope the next 8 months are as amazing as these!
Love you loads and loads gorgeous xxxxxx
Well hello Sam, fancy seeing you here
It’s always great to see you commenting, as it’s proof that you’ve come a long way from when I first met you! You’re becoming a confident, mature young woman, and it’s wonderful to be with you right now.
Love you loads and loads too xxxxx
Hey Stu,
You’re right, even on vacation we substitute one routine for another. But it’s a DIFFERENT routine and that makes all the difference! You know what they say, a change is as good as a rest (even re-arranging the furniture is therapeutic!)
Unplugging for my 10 days was extremely therapeutic for me. It was NECESSARY. I’m now much more refreshed and raring to go with the late summer, and fall and winter months ahead of me (I love those seasons!)
Human’s are creatures of habit, no question. We gravitate towards the familiar – even familiar routines. And we hate it when that is disrupted!
As for mixing things up in my life, I’ll be doing that very soon when I launch my book!
Thanks for the mention Stu! I hope you and Sam have a great time when you take your vacation!
Lori
Lori Gosselin recently posted..Are You Really Prepared?
Hey Lori, great to see you here again! I hope your vacation was wonderful and everything you could wish for?
Unplugging, as you put it, is becoming more and more necessary these days – we’re getting more hooked up with your online activity, health warnings should be coming out. A balance is key I feel.
You have a book coming out? Excellent! Have you finished writing it? I’m eager to learn more
Hi Stu,
On the one hand I create a lot of routines subconsciously and they work for me. That is until I become aware of them and then the rebel in me stops EVEN IF IT’S WORKING! That happens about every 3-4 months. I just get itchy and notice that I’m not growing. Anyways…I was very melancholy on Friday. I was still writing and enjoying commenting, etc. But something was off. I could feel it. Our landlord stopped by and said, “I’m selling the house.” 3 weeks before school starts! I was so excited he didn’t know whether he should apologize or say you’re welcome. Then the resistance set in. Then the washing machine started leaking. Then the basement ceiling and its lighting (dropped ceiling) fell out throwing sparks everywhere. Then the cat got hit by a car (he’s fine). All in 24 hours. So, resist I may, but we’re out of here! Sounds so romantic to settle down and grow old in one place. Me, I have to change around the furniture once a month or I go nuts. The kids love it, but I’m the only one in the house who knows where EVERYTHING is! So there are downsides to changes in routine.
Hey Betsy, that’s a great comment you’ve just left, thanks for inspiring the conversation!
Itchy feet start getting the better of us, which is our spirits calling out and begging us to shake things up – time for a change, in other words.
It’s amazing what can happen to us in a 24-hour period isn’t it? So many things ‘going wrong’ there, I must commend you for simply keeping up! Glad everything is ok with you Betsy
Go Stu, go!
I’m excited for you, and although I don’t know exactly what you’ll be changing I can sense by the nature of what you shared here that it comes from your heart. That is what matters.
What you’ve shared here aligns well with my recent post about not making arbitrary rules. You’re spot on, Stu.
Marlee recently posted..Why Faith, Politics, and Sex are great for Business, and Other Assumptions You Should Question
Hi Marlee, it’s great to see you again!
I listed the plans for Unlock The Door in my previous post, but I felt that it was time to mix it up and do things differently. And I still intend to do so
Thanks for the comment
Know exactly what you mean. I started on a new journey this year with my blog and now have taken more steps in another direction as well. It does shake things up, with new discoveries around every corner.
Enjoyed your article in Life Skills Magazine.
Barbara recently posted..Helium Article: How Ospreys Hunt
Thanks for commenting Barbara, it’s great to see you here!
I hope everything works out with your blog, and if you need help with anything please let me know.
Glad you enjoyed the article in Life Skills
P.S. Congratulations to you and Sam!
Barbara recently posted..Helium Article: How Ospreys Hunt
Thanks Barbara
Congratulations on going for it! I hear you on the blogging. I started blogging in March of 2010 and although I have been posting consistently, I have seen other blogs in the same niche leave me in the dust. What they have done that I haven’t is ruthless networking. You see, I am a bit shy and there is no place for shyness in the blogosphere. And so I too am going for it with a new routine of commenting, guest posting and reaching out to other bloggers. I have come to realize it is a necessity for my success. Thanks for posting a link to that article by Marcus Sheridan.
Lisa H. recently posted..Do You Have and Impoverished Mind?
Hi Lisa, thanks for the kind words!
I think you’re right – if we want success, we need to get out and grab it for ourselves. It won’t come to us. Ruthless networking does have it’s place.
Congratulations on still blogging for that long Lisa, what do you think you’ve learned from the months so far?
That’s great that you followed your intuition. Got off your behind, and ended up meeting the girl of your dreams, too. Watching the universe in action can be really fascinating when it works behind the scenes to bring people or circumstances together.
I’ve been in a place where I felt as you did back then, but these days though I don’t always move off my chair enough, I get to meet fascinating people and do what I love.
Julie | A Clear Sign recently posted..What If Calvin and Hobbes Were In Your Soul Group?
Ha ha, thanks Julie, I got off my butt with favourable results
It sounds like you’ve found something good going on in your life, and I congratulate you. Keep up the good times!
Wonderful and inspirational Stu
Yes…shaking up things a bit helps us to relax a little and allow for frequent interruptions throughout the day…because having newness and unexpectedness awakens our spirit. I have had to learn this in my life as well and still learning. As a matter of fact, you mention the play group you joined…that is the NEXT thing I am to do because I keep talking about it
Kenya recently posted..Donation Psychic Readings Now Available
Thanks for commenting Kenya! I agree, that wonderful feeling of newness and vitality – can’t beat it!
You’re going to join a drama group? Brilliant, I really hope you don’t regret it
Great post, Stu!
I have found that there are some people who feel the need to control life so absolutely that any deviation from the norm is quite painful for them, even to the point of anxiety attacks.
Then there are others who just go with the flow, bending effortlessly to life’s twists and turns. It’s almost as though they are addicted to whim and spontaneity. Some of these types don’t do well with a 9-5. Marriage and family can feel overwhelmingly restrictive to them.
Me? I suppose I’m somewhere in between the two extremes. I’m of the mind that as long as there is enough routine to get things done, and enough openness to spontaneity and change that adjustments can be made in relatively short order, life can be very rewarding almost despite what life decides to throw your way.
Stu, I’m thrilled for you and Sam and for the changes in your life and coming to your work. I look forward to seeing the growth unfold!
Be good, my friend!
Ken Wert recently posted..Quotable Notables from the Blogosphere … Happiness
Hey Ken, thanks for adding to the conversation with this awesome comment!
I hadn’t thought about it as the two extremes, and perhaps I ought to have included that in the post. No matter, I hope everyone who reads this post then reads your comment as well! Thanks!
I’m looking forward to your guest post this Friday, I’ve a feeling it will go down well with the readers here
Stu you’re absolutely right. I actually noticed this a few months back. I realized that I was too caught in the routine of posting and commenting and while that is an excellent way to build my community over at IEC I knew that I had shake things up, as you out it, for myself but also for my community.
I was talking a lot of about entrepreneurship and about making the switch but I was giving them no real example from which I was living by. That’s exactly why I created the MyProBusiness category on my blog. Not only will I continue to post, comment and add valuable content to my readers about becoming internet entrepreneurs and obtaining financial freedom but now I will be driven to act by it, as I will be posting result and lessons learned on my journey to reach my business goals (which I highlighted in my first post in that category).
Im right there with you Stu! I am more than taking my business seriously and I am truly looking forward to sharing every success and failure in the journey!
It was definitely time to break the routine and you made it the move at the PERFECT time in your blog life! Way to keep persisting Stu!
Hector Avellaneda recently posted..How Much Should You Invest in an Internet Business to get Started!
Thanks Hector, it feels great to be able to do this at this time! Now is the time!
I wish you all the best with IEC, and it seems that your own moment of clarity has got you shaking things up! You’re right, people respond better to what you preach, if you practice it as well
Let’s do this together Hector, let’s build something great
Im in 110% Let’s do it. I can’t wait to for the vision that the future holds for us, to realize!
Hector Avellaneda recently posted..How Much Should You Invest in an Internet Business to get Started!
The future is ours to take Hector
Loved the ‘person’ side of this post Stu, and well done relating that story to theme of this article—shaking it up.
Like you, I’m going through major changes with my life, but in reality, I don’t know if change is the right word as much as it’s a process of maturation and moving to my next natural phase of things as I listen to the promptings that come.
But may I just say I’m thrilled to watch what this next phase holds for you Stu.
Cheers,
Marcus
Marcus Sheridan-The Sales Lion recently posted..Just How Much Can 800 Days of Inbound Marketing Change Your Life??
Hey Marcus, I think change is still coming to us, but as you said, it doesn’t feel like change. Perhaps because you’ve accepted that this change is meant to be happening, and so it just feels ‘right’?
Thanks for the kind words, I hope we both grow and mature together
Thanks to Smart Boy Designs – I’ve been following you pretty heavily now. I must say that life is full of adventures, but even with this – having a routine is a great indicator to keep your life organized. I think you can balance between routine and going forth beyond what you know to do even more! (This is what I think you’re saying).
I think you’re getting there and you’re going to accomplish what you’re trying to achieve. There is something about you that is keeping me intrigued.
Jonathan recently posted..How Bad Do You Want It?
Hey Jonathan, thanks for coming over to Unlock The Door, and I’m happy that you’ve decided to follow me over!
You’re right, a balance is essential – see Ken Wert’s comment above, which nailed it beautifully.
I hope I can keep you intrigued amigo
Hi Stu,
It’s as if you spoke to me personally. I can relate to so many points you mentioned. I’m going through some changes in my life right now and I find myself resisting and procrastinating because as you so rightly said, my routine will be affected and and I will be forced to move out of my comfort zone. But I’m willing to shake it up just to have the pleasure and satisfaction of accomplishing something that I love.
I like the idea of grabbing opportunities as they appear. I would like to explore that more.
Fantastic article, thanks for sharing. Have a nice day!
Theresa Torres recently posted..Best Family Credit Cards for Back to School
Hi Theresa, welcome to Unlock The Door! Great to have you here!
I’m happy that this post meant so much to you. Sometimes we ask questions of ourselves and the world, and we want to find an answer as soon as possible. But answers can come in any shape or form, and often when we least suspect them. In this case, maybe this post was the answer you were looking for?
Thanks for commenting today
Hey, Stu.
You know what’s great about abandoning routines and starting embracing life as you say is that it allows you to smell the flowers, taste that pizza, relish that long walk and enjoy that dance in the rain. It opens your heart, your mind and soul to infinite possibilities in your every day. Another thing about not really taking to routines is that it won’t upset your schedule much if an illness happens in your family (or like in my case, a string of illnesses). It won’t send you in a panic because you have to cut back on your blog commenting because you have to prioritize your family’s needs.
When I started blogging, it was a bit routinary for me, too, especially the writing. I was geared towards writing all about 3D rendering. But, as I went along and learned from great people, I learned that it is when we go beyond the routines that we can discover and unleash our potential. This worked well for me because I have always been for spontaneity.
Thanks for this great read, Stu. Appreciate the food for thought.
Kim
Kim Davies recently posted..As a Blogger or a 3D Artist, Who Do You Work For?
That’s the great thing about life Kim – when you move beyond the routine, as you so beautifully put it, you open yourself up to life. You discover that there’s so much more to life than a strict schedule.
Thanks for stopping by today Kim, and thanks for the shout-out on your latest post. I appreciate it
Life can be a comfy armchair Stuart and all we end up doing being the remote control i.e. we never go far, evolve much, push out our boundaries. I, as you know, have left Coventry after 40+ years and am in London…for now. I don’t know where next but know me and who I am and that’s the one comfort to have. But to find where he is best suited means abandoning the armchair and busting the inner comfort zones. It feels a bit weird as I’m effectively ‘home-less’ but if you don’t break out you will never break free. And then we can all find the ‘Sam’s’ in our life too. An honest, respectful, post woven with love Stuart, I salute you.
John Sherry recently posted..Simple Advice For Big Progress
I had a feeling this post will resonate with you John, after the massive changes you’ve been making in your own life!
The armchair is the safe zone, the familiar, the comfortable. We could stay there for as long as we choose, and no-one would say anything. But our spirits, deep inside us, would say something. They’d tell us to get up and go grab life!
Thanks for stopping by John, and best of luck with the future
Hey Stu, the circle of routine are very interesting. I think what separates exceptional people is that they don’t let the “a wrench in the works” throw off their morning, their day, their week, or the year that follows. Unfortunately we are pretty much creatures of habit, and when circumstances strike, we revert back to what keep our us comfortable.
I’m glad you put this out there. As “hard” as I’m working, both on growing my small business and consulting business, there are certain routines I fall into. For me, I need to stay more focused, as I can be easily distracted….especially online! I say to myself that I’ll just go check something out real quick. the next thing you know, a half hour has gone by. Things may end up getting pushed off until the next day because of that lack of laser like focus. I’m actually doing it right now as I write this comment lol!
BTW, sounds like you have something awesome with Sam. Glad to hear it, and thanks for sharing your story!
Adam Sokoloff recently posted..5 reasons why you CAN & SHOULD take on the GIANTS of business with Inbound Marketing
Hi Adam, don’t tell me about focus, I still struggle with multi-tasking and procrastination
Thanks for the kind words, I hope your businesses reach new heights and your dreams get reached Adam, I really do
Hi Stu,
First, thanks a lot for the link. I was actually thinking about my experience while on vacation when reading your post, and then, out of the blue, I saw my name and the link. How cool is that. My face just lit up. I could feel it.
I am also a routine person. I do the same things every single morning, and during the day, I have many of the same routines. But, once in a while I have an alter ego that I have called “Impulisive Jens”. When I get bored, I become this person. I do things that I wouldn’t normally do. No big and serious stuff, but I try a new type of breakfast, or I walk a mile instead of driving, or I start to talk to people I wouldn’t normally talk to. Just in order to have some fun and not being part of the routine that life has become
Thanks again for the link… and sharing this awesome post.
Jens
Jens P. Berget recently posted..I Expect People Will Open My Emails When I Use This Trick
Hey Jens, it was my pleasure to link to you – I could feel that it was the right thing to do.
Impulsive Jens sounds like a fun guy to meet! Maybe he could meet up with me and we’d share stories of ‘spur-of-the-moment’ actions
Take care amigo
Stu,
You have managed to make me reflect deeply on the choices I make and now I have greater understanding of the peril of getting stuck in a unhealthy routine. When I was a kid, I would go to the same place everyday and order the same meal after school. I mean years went by with me doing the same thing over and over again. Then one day a person that I really wanted to avoid got wind of my routine. I had a habit of saying hurtful things about people bigger than myself. It wasn’t my best decsion. I spent 2 1/2 hours trying to joke my way out of a butt whooping. Luckily I was funny and me and the guy became good friends. What I learned from this situation is that you can never become to predictable. It is almost like being in a fight and the person you are fighting knows what you are going to do 10 minutes before you do it. In the fight for our lives we have got to hit our challenges with things they did not expect.
This was an awesome read.
Wow Frank, every so often, your comments strike a chord deep within me. This is one of them.
I like the way you put this – “we have got to hit our challenges with things they did not expect”. I couldn’t have put it any better myself Frank, surprising our obstacles with new solutions is the best way to get past them.
Thanks for stopping by today
Well okay…as someone with OCD I’m afraid routine is tantamount and not much of a choice. However, when I jumped into opportunities and broke routines all over the place when my OCD was not so bad, I NEVER regretted it. The result was always a happy confirmation self-hug that I did the right thing.
pea recently posted..The Mouse
Hey Pea, welcome to Unlock The Door, it’s a pleasure to have you here!
Keep giving yourself those happy confirmation self-hugs, as they work a treat! They prove that you’re doing what you truly want to do, rather than get caught up in a routine.
Take care, and thanks for stopping by
Aww, you and Sam are so sweet! Nice to read something about your life. Thanks for sharing that. As for routine versus being spontaneous, I try to have some balance. Routines mean that I don’t have to consciously think about everything, but I try to recognize that routines have to be flexible. For example, I was out in the back yard today with my laptop catching up on blogs, when two baby raccoons waddled across the top of my fence and climbed my neighbor’s tree. I decided that watching them was more interesting that staying on task, so I had a delightful time just watching them climb around in the tree.
Galen Pearl recently posted..From the Ashes
Hey Galen, we try to be sweet, but not sickly sweet
Balance is the key it seems, especially to prevent yourself from tipping into either of the opposites. And it also means that you open yourself up to magical moments like you had with the raccoons.
Life is beautiful if we take the time to look at it properly
Stu,
You make some great points here. I definitely should take another look at my routine. First, because as you mentioned, I resent people calling me and breaking my routine. Or I resent invitations that will interfere with it. Or friends who feel they have to see me. Occasionally. At the same time, I love seeing and talking to them, but I won’t call them because my routine doesn’t include time for them. In other words, my routine has imprisoned me and anything, however nice or entertaining, that takes me out of it is a matter of irritation, resentment, even rejection. Obviously, I have to do something about it and this blog post came at the perfect moment. So many thanks – again – for making an important point.
Penelope J. recently posted..Encounter with A Narco
Hi Penelope, no problem, I’m glad you enjoyed the read and found it useful!
What you said about routines imprisoning you can be true of a lot of routines – we think they work for us, but at times it feels like we’re working for them
I love the story of how you met Sam. It reminds me of how I met this girl I feel in love with. I met her at a family gathering and she was a friend. I didn’t like her at first. I actually hated her for some particular reason and I didn’t even know who she was. As time progressed, we laughed, chitchatted and she became a girl that shaped and shifted my reality to the max. Eventho, the break up was uneventful. I felt she was necessary in my life, you know? Either was I can relate. And I appreciate your honesty. Fear can be a annoyance.
jonathanfigaro recently posted..Shockingly Amazing Book Review
Hey Jonathan, I’m happy you had that experience with that girl, as it sounds like you were able to grow as a person.
Other people are there to bring the best or worst out in us, but they always teach us something
Hey Stuart,
Love the story of you two. Followed Sam too
Usually, I used to be stuck to routine as well. Like glue; but then there are so many things that I miss out and regret on later. So, though I still have a routine it is not like a fixed cycle that I SHOULD be taking. I try to be flexible and include things here and there.
Off to check your post on John’s blog!
Hajra recently posted..What now?
That’s great Hajra, I’m sure Sam will appreciate that!
It sounds like you have a balance going on, which is wonderful – keep that moderation going! It’ll encourage more flexibility.
BTW, it seems both our Twitter accounts have been hacked! I’ve changed my password and revoked access to many apps. How’s your Twitter now?
Hi, I’m over for the first time from Find YourHarmony. Nice blog here! Routines for me have always been a hindrance. Although writing early in the morning in complete solitude before everyone else wakes up, will be one that I keep, lol. And now maybe adding your blog to my rounds.
)
Hi Sheila, it’s a pleasure to meet you, and welcome to Unlock The Door!
Indeed, some routines are good, including writing first thing in the day. That’s a good one. Keep what works and ditch what doesn’t!
Thanks for stopping by
Hi Stu,
Its great to read about you and your girlfriend. You are very lucky to be in such a fulfilling relationship. My best wishes.
How do I take distractions from work ? Well I do get irritated for a few seconds( I will be honest about it ) and sometimes it does get on my nerve but then I have taught myself how to come back to work. I often put a music station on and listen to my favorite rock music tracks( planet rock from UK
).
It calms me down a lot.
I think distractions are part of our life and we cannot really stop them from happening.
As for routine, yes I like to break the routine by sometimes doing things I want to do some other time right now but most of the time , I get stuck to routine. I think it is very desirable that we improvise a little to make life more interesting and mix and match while keeping the ultimate goal in mind.
Great post and I enjoyed reading it.
Ashvini recently posted..Key for entrepreneur’s survival in early years: Cash Flow vs profit
Thanks for stopping by Ashvini, I appreciate you taking time time do so!
I don’t listen to Planet Rock, but I used to know someone who did – they’d always rave about AC/DC coming on
Distractions happen to us when we have a routine, because they don’t fit into our routine. But when we open ourselves up, and embrace life for what it is, we don’t suffer from distractions, because there’s nothing to distract us from
Ahhh Routines. I love them. I hate them. A classic love/hate relationship.
I love how they instil a sense of normalcy and familiarity. I love how they help make decisions easier.
I hate when I can’t stick to them simply because I didn’t feel like it.
I hate when things I cannot control keep me from sticking to them.
I love when I can choose to stray from them.
Hey Sassy, welcome to Unlock The Door!
That’s wonderful how your relationship with ‘routine’ changes so much. I think everyone has that same vein of relationship with their routines, they just don’t care to admit it
Take care
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