Patterns Become Ruling Routines

You know, the older we get I think the harder it is to let go of our routines. I wonder if that is what helps provide us with more stability in a crazy, hectic life. You know what time you are getting up, when you are going home and what you are doing when you get there. If something upsets that routine – it can affect your whole mood.

It is one of those things that I’ve noticed about myself and about my friends. I used to be a lot more spontaneous. Where did that go? I can remember a conversation with a friend not that long ago reminding me of how I just picked up and moved to Chile or how I just decided to move to Ohio – because of my idealism.

We were talking about me moving back to DC and well, that decision is harder. Is it because of routine? It is crazy to think that I’ve been in Columbus for MORE than 3 years and have had the same job for almost 3 years and have lived in the same place. This is the first time in my life I’ve had that type of stability. Is routine what makes us less risk adverse? Is it age? Maturity?

I don’t know where this is going, but I guess it came up because I was at work for 12 hours today and before I went in…I told myself I was working 8 to 8 and no more. I get done, what I get done. I came home, was playing phone tag with several different friends. One who I haven’t talked to in a while….and we spoke briefly before she went to bed at 10. It was a little awkward, because we both were unwilling to change our routine to talk to another.

When I got home from work – I did my usual. Took Ariel for a walk and then went to the gym. Then, came home and tried to call my friend and finally reached her. This was at 10 pm.

You know…I think we got to do more. Routine isn’t an excuse for not talking to people. I know I fall into this all the time and my friends do as well. But, we gotta do better.

Sometimes I think we let routine and our “daily life” be an excuse for not connecting, not being spontaneous and living a life that is well, full of comfortable patterns but with little real adventure.