This was such a balm for me to read today. Last year I started a little project to create a daily map. It wasn't beautiful but something different every day. I'd start with a scribble and write in what I did. What I noticed after awhile was a pattern emerging with morning and evening rituals. We all have them whether we think we do or not. Once I discovered these patterns I simply started inputting AM & PM ritual on the map automatically. But, I used to have different opening and closing rituals. I really enjoyed some of them but I can't seem to incorporate them into my life now (that I don't show up to a job). Your prompts make me think about some of them and I'm now thinking how I can incorporate the ones that make me feel good into my daily life. I so appreciate all the wisdom you share.
Thank you for this lovely comment, Santina! I always appreciate your perspective. It sounds like your opening and closing rituals emerged naturally before you put a label on them, which feels really beautiful to me! I wonder if you're shifting to a new span of rituals now, but you just haven't discovered them! Also, your post makes me think about Brooke McAlary's writing about 1%--just doing things for 1% of a day (which I think is 15 minutes, though I don't remember precisely!). I wonder if that could be a way to develop some of these lovely rituals in your new routine? I find it inspiring, how even if I can't do an hour of yoga, I could do even 5 minutes and it feels good--like I'm trending in the direction of habit building by doing things I know nourish me, but I'm not setting the stakes so high that I need to do it "perfectly"!
A big YES to what you say here. I suffer from chronic illness made worse now that I need a hip replacement which means I can't do much physically. I try to do micro movements while sitting in the chair for instance but something that I did which I found incredible is starting something for the last 100 days of 2023 that just felt so right that I didn't even have to think about it. That sunk in and made me think that I will try things on for size and not feel bad if I don't stick with them. As you say though at times it makes a mega difference just doing things in little increments. Yes to doing something for 5 minutes and so on. A big high five on not doing things perfectly either. I had to have a major breakdown to learn that lesson!
This was such a balm for me to read today. Last year I started a little project to create a daily map. It wasn't beautiful but something different every day. I'd start with a scribble and write in what I did. What I noticed after awhile was a pattern emerging with morning and evening rituals. We all have them whether we think we do or not. Once I discovered these patterns I simply started inputting AM & PM ritual on the map automatically. But, I used to have different opening and closing rituals. I really enjoyed some of them but I can't seem to incorporate them into my life now (that I don't show up to a job). Your prompts make me think about some of them and I'm now thinking how I can incorporate the ones that make me feel good into my daily life. I so appreciate all the wisdom you share.
Thank you for this lovely comment, Santina! I always appreciate your perspective. It sounds like your opening and closing rituals emerged naturally before you put a label on them, which feels really beautiful to me! I wonder if you're shifting to a new span of rituals now, but you just haven't discovered them! Also, your post makes me think about Brooke McAlary's writing about 1%--just doing things for 1% of a day (which I think is 15 minutes, though I don't remember precisely!). I wonder if that could be a way to develop some of these lovely rituals in your new routine? I find it inspiring, how even if I can't do an hour of yoga, I could do even 5 minutes and it feels good--like I'm trending in the direction of habit building by doing things I know nourish me, but I'm not setting the stakes so high that I need to do it "perfectly"!
A big YES to what you say here. I suffer from chronic illness made worse now that I need a hip replacement which means I can't do much physically. I try to do micro movements while sitting in the chair for instance but something that I did which I found incredible is starting something for the last 100 days of 2023 that just felt so right that I didn't even have to think about it. That sunk in and made me think that I will try things on for size and not feel bad if I don't stick with them. As you say though at times it makes a mega difference just doing things in little increments. Yes to doing something for 5 minutes and so on. A big high five on not doing things perfectly either. I had to have a major breakdown to learn that lesson!
Cheers to micro movements! I love that approach! And also love so much your phrasing here of trying things on for size. <3