Routines

Yesterday I left late for class.  I barely made it in time and the walk there was less than enjoyable; I had to cut across paths and all the people walking "slowly" (a.k.a. more slowly than I was) were so frustrating!  About three quarters of the way there, I was stuck behind a slow group of friends, laughing and enjoying themselves, when I realized that my quest to get to class on time was making me less than friendly.  I was annoyed by people who were doing nothing wrong.  Maybe they were doing it right!  They were most definitely enjoying that walk much more than I was.

One reason I was late leaving for class is my adherence to my routine.  I'd gotten up five minutes late which meant I pushed back my shower by five minutes and then I finished getting ready five minutes later which pushed my packing back by five minutes which meant I walked out the door five minutes later than usual.  This routine happens almost every day, and for some reason my subconscious decided that I'd rather be a mad, fast walker than skip some part of my routine.

There are many small routines throughout the week that, while adding structure and regularity to my life, make me look inward while heading to different classes.  I'm worried about getting to class on time: which way is the fastest? How can I maneuver around that slow walker ahead? Why is this person being so inconsiderate, don't they know I need to get to class?  After thinking about this, I would say that this is not a healthy, or at least positive, way of going about my day.  When walking to class, I should look outward, paying attention to the community and landscape around me, even, and maybe especially, if it means breaking my routine for once.