I don’t brush my teeth at the same time every morning.
I clean them eventually, but some mornings I’m not feeling it right away. There are days I make the bed first thing or slipper-shuffle to the kitchen for breakfast. It depends on my mood.
I recently read an article about minimalism. I think it was five or seven habits of people that live a minimalist life.
I know. I’m not supposed to read rules and lists, but I can’t help it. I have the optimism of a toddler that someday, the right hint will change my world. That I will find a secret to endless energy, mental organization, and two-glasses-of-wine bliss forever.
Number one on the minimalist life list? Create a morning routine. A ritual that can be performed with such ease that it will enable both focus and calm. Doesn’t that sound amazing? According to the article giving myself steps in the morning frees my mind to focus on more important things.
I made a mental list in preparation for my morning routine. And while I was at it, I came up with an evening routine too. That led to a workday routine and a getting-into-the car routine. Things I do every time I get in the car, in order. Every time.
With the help of my new routines, I was moisturized and rested. I had fresh breath and knew where my wallet was, my keys. It was what the list promised. Orderly and flowy like a favorite skirt on a sunny day. For a whole day, my desk was clear, and I felt an order to my life that was. . . stifling.
Holy hell. How does anyone live like that?
Now, it could be said that I took on too much. I am excellent at making a mountain out of a handful of sand. I should have made a small change.
It would have been best to start with only the morning routine. Valid point. But I don’t think it matters. I would have sabotaged any venture into self-improvement because deep down, way deep, I’m a rebel.
I think I want to be better, fall in line, but the truth is I enjoy the crazy chaos of choices that greet me every morning, and evening, and when I get in my car.
I’m a rebel. A teeth-washing-by-the-seat-of-my-pants crazy woman. All along, I had a feeling that I was a closet renegade, born to swim against the tide. And now that I’ve tried to be a minimalist for a day, I know for sure.
My thoughts from the laundry room. All-nighter.
acceptance choices crazy life learning organization systems thoughts humor life self expression thoughts whatever