Friday, February 16, 2007

Lord, Preserve Me From Repetition

As I child, I disliked repetitiveness, and I still do. I am unable to mentally relate to individuals that can nestle for a lifetime in strict unchanging codes of conduct and belief. Who can watch the same movie ten times, or talk the same talk and walk the same walk. Systemic paths so deeply rutted in the brain that they can’t be ruffled in a breeze or soaked by a shower. (I can’t help but reflect on a few war-mongering VIPS as I type this).

But I am guilty in some respects as well. Every morning when my feet hit the floor, I go through my repetitive physical routines of morning grooming and coffee drinking. But, at the same time, from the first slant of dawn I am on the hunt for a new discovery.

And though I find physical ease wrapped in this old housecoat, and these same old slippers, sipping coffee and poised in front of this same old laptop, mentally, I need change. The old, worn, and familiar is as distressing as being incarcerated.

So I wake up each day searching for a new thought, a new outlook, a new understanding, a new conviction…to override the ‘old thought’ that was pertinent to yesterday. And, for me, it is the best kind of day if I route out something new in your mind, or mine, to admire, evaluate, ponder, maybe even abhor.

This is my kind of radical sport -- the thrill of free-fall after another fresh mind-expanding discovery.

10 comments:

Pauline said...

We're on the same wavelength - you sure we weren't twins separated at birth?

I'm off for a week to the sunny south to visit my daughter and future son-in-law, to rest, to gather shells on the beach, to have long conversations over meals. A lovely change...

Joy Des Jardins said...

Hi Roberta,

This is the first time I've been to your blog. You left a comment on my post over at Ronni's place. I thorougly enjoyed what you had to say, and wanted to come by to see your site. BTW...I left a comment after yours in reply to what you had to say on the subject.

Now...in regards to your post...

Boy, do I understand where you're coming from. I have my little ritual every morning too. Coffee or tea and hit the keyboards and check everything out. Sometimes I'm entranced there for hours with various things. I actually work on the internet for my daughter's business as well, so I'm there even more than usual. There are days when I feel I'm losing touch with the outside world....a funny thing to say when I'm communicating with so many blogging friends. But still, I have to actually force myself to change things up...get out....do something out of the ordinary. As much as I love blogging and the internet, I know there's STILL another world out there. Some days it bothers me more than others. I certainly love the community of blogging and discovering new voices and personalities....like yourself. It's opened up a whole other world to me....and certainly at a time when I needed it most.

This was a terrific post Roberta...

Spicy said...

Roberta,
So many people live lives of quiet desperation, doing the same thing every day in the same way, not looking for adventure, no taking risks,,,,don't make waves.

I'm also glad I am now a blogger, to know I'm not alone,to share in others lives,,to get ideas, to write, to ponder, to get excited again if its about an idea, to constantly learn. Life is about change.
As usual, you have great insight.

Anonymous said...

Oddly, Roberta, I need to both create habits, and seek diversity!

I've been trying to change my morning rising habits. My husband gets up at 4:30 every weekday morning, and I want to try to shift my day to match his. I find when I rise at 5:00 or 5:15 I head out to get a mug of tea, start a load of clothes, and fold another, empty the dishwasher and refill it, clean off the counters, and then get dressed. It seems that this ritual gets me off to a firm start, so that I can put the repetitive chores that have to be done behind me and get into my day.

A large part of my weekday mornings are devoted to getting my mother to her appointments and exercise class. I don't have as much control over that time as I'd like, and my afternoons (and some evenings) are spent working for my husband.

Somewhere there has to be time for the new. I love my Internet communication, but I have come to realize that I need to be out and about, talking with people face to face, finding out about them, and through them, myself.

I've consoled myself that there are seasons in our lives, but that may very well be a cop out. Perhaps I need to seek out the new now, and follow in your footsteps.

Thanks for a great post that's gotten me thinking!

Buffy

Roberta S said...

pauline, maybe we are twins. Maybe not birth twins – perhaps Gemini twins??

Is there a better place to be when at the seaside then checking out shells and other critters on the beach? For me, there’s not. Hope you have a grand time.

Roberta S said...

Welcome Joy Des Jardins. New visitors are always so welcome. And thanks so much for the kind comments here and over there – at ‘Time goes By’. I think your guest blog there might have inspired this rant. I found within it all kinds of new perspectives that left me pondering with sheer delight.

I was over at your place looking around as well. The pics you posted of Valentine couples were truly heart-warming. Glad you enjoyed your visit here. Please come again.

Roberta S said...

matty, you always round out what I am thinking in such a special way. Makes me think that with collaboration in our writing we might be able to straighten the mess out and even move a few mountains. :)

Roberta S said...

Buffy, I have my habits too. Same old, same old, day after day. I realize that these kind of repetitions are comforting in their own way, and at the same time, necessary, as you suggest. We all have to get the chores done so we can glorify our minds in new discoveries.

And yes, your suggestion is also right that we have seasons in our lives. My season of being out there with people and travelling is done. So I find my diversions from household routines with my blogger friends.

As for going on a tour with sunhat and suitcase, maybe we should do that. “Watch out world, here comes Buffy and Roberta!”

And that’s when Hub, who of course is busy watching ‘Lone Star’ speaks up just like in a Western movie – “Alright, drop them sunhats and suitcases and nobody move!”

Anonymous said...

Roberta, I'd swish my skirts and act coy to divert Hub, and then you could tie him up while he's laughing..... *G*

I meant to say that I re-read books. I have old friends that I like to visit. Occasionally, I'll go to the library for a book on tape to listen to while I quilt, and I'm as likely to pick a new book, and I am to "re-read" one of those old friends.

Buffy

Roberta S said...

Buffy, are you sure you didn't meet Hub somewhere in your younger years? Cause the coy skirt-swishing would definitely work. And yes he'd laugh. Hopelessly, helplessly. And yes we could tie him up while he's laughing.

You make me laugh as well, you funny girl.

P.S. Don't tell anyone, but I occasionally re-read the odd book if it is a truly fascinating tale.