Routines are the glue that holds our lives together. Their effects are almost drug-like. It’s a simple form of self-medicating. Sounds profound.  I’d like to say that Sigmund Freud said that but it was just me or maybe I read it in a greeting card. I would love to say that I am spontaneous (I am!) and always willing to be adventurous (I am that too!) but I do like my Starbucks in the morning, my alone time (absolutely!) during the day and some level of bonding with the critters (yep, even the fish) to keep me even keeled (that is code for not cranky).  My recent transition from full-time working has tested many of my routines. I remember stories of people I worked with long ago who would continue to put on a coat and tie in the morning and leave the house after they were downsized from their jobs. I thought that was just crazy…but maybe not so.

I have to admit that I jump in the car to get a mocha latte almost every morning (ok, every morning). I still prefer to shower in the morning, plan my clothes the night before and organize my day. I don’t need to do any of that on a schedule but if you take away my routine, I am lost.

For the past few weeks we had rotating house guests and a family reunion (that will be a separate blog of epic proportions!) in the middle. That was two weeks of “bouncing” routines and I feel fairly discombobulated. (Yes, that’s a word – spell check said so!) House guests always require a change in routines even when they are no trouble. For one, the cat routines are disrupted which causes insane overcompensation and guilt on my part. In order to restore my sanity, it will be necessary to:

• Have a girls’ night out
• Eat chocolate
• Drink margaritas, which by the way, are a much better form of self-medication
• Indulge in a lot of alone time
• Get back on the walking schedule (that was the only disruption I truly enjoyed)
• Eat more chocolate
• Hug the cats

And…I am on it!