As a stay at home Mom, that put many hours into volunteer as well as random acts of kindness, I learned early in my adult life that taking a break from routine was going to be a necessary move on my part. I could blame it on a break from pain or a break from the same old same old and both would have been correct.
I only had to take a look at the man I was married to and the male friends that I had associated with to understand that men had been doing this kind of activity for years and it was the women that found the excuses as to why they never could or had legitimate excuses as to why it was impossible. Some people are quite content with routine or believe they are and do not even bother to change their perspective. I personally believe we do no one a favor when we do have that attitude.
For generations men have gathered to hunt,fish,golf,bowl, or do male bonding and a few women of my generation would do one or the other but not all of them. Without making a generality too general,for the most part women did lunch, saw a movie, gossiped over coffee or the phone and played cards. I always preferred to get out of the environment, that I lived in altogether, and really shake up my routine. To me, going on vacation once a year, with the family was always a fun thing to do but rare was the times that I did not come home from vacation more exhausted than I was before I left.
Changing our routine can happen at home or away from home or be a combination of both. For the last 19 days, since I last wrote, I have had all my favorite people in as company, cooked meals that I do not typically cook for the two of us, gone to the casino and hit another jackpot, took a 4 day trip to visit some of the best people who I know, ordered out from a menu and had it delivered in even more frequently, went to an estate auction, made plans to attend another antique auction,caught up on missed sleep, and acted as a confidant for a woman who has had a history of abuse and needed help understanding ways in putting it behind her. ( I’m not sure she will follow my advice as that is her option to not do so, if she chooses to). I learned the value of knowing, help is only as good as the person needing and wanting help accepts it, years ago, and that like most everything else, I have learned, I learned the hard way.
The important thing is, I had the opportunity to live my life looking through the eyes of other people who are entangled with their life’s struggles, and in doing so it has taught me to appreciate more the value of taking out time to put others before myself as well as refreshed old skills that I have used over the years. It is very healthy to do so every so often just as long as we never get in the habit of always putting ourselves last.
No One is indispensable in their lives once we realize that only a control freak thinks they are. Letting go and listening while trying to make others comfortable, their life a little easier but not assuming their responsibility, and making our self-worth sail beyond duty teaches all of us the real value of our connection to the human race and what role we play in it.
For all of you who read my old posts while I was away on sabbatical. I thank you. I do enjoy the routine of my life but still know the need to build on it. I am now heading into the winter months knowing I have taken time out to smell the roses and enjoyed the moment.
By the way, do any of you see any connections with today’s news and the things that I have been writing about when it comes to religion getting off track?
I hate to see what is happening with the Churches in America and wouldn’t be so smug, if I was a member of any Church not currently named, as the problem with all established religion is much larger than what is currently being reported. It is a time of reckoning for the American Churches, in my opinion. No one should ever take anything or anyone on earth too literally or we all will learn how easy it is to be terribly corrupted by powerful influence, if we haven’t already. Sadly it’s not just the politicians that are influenced by power and money and we need to hold ALL criminals responsible, regardless of faith, creed, or color and their position in the same. Yip I’m back!:)
Welcome Back! We missed you!
Thanks. I appreciate your comments as always.