I’ve had a morning routine that starts with making coffee, taking care of the dog, and watching the news while the caffeine hits my system. I play Wordle and Connections with my family, and we all post to a common text thread. After years of this routine, I decided I needed a change.
No, I haven’t eliminated coffee (after all, I roast it myself and truly enjoy it). No, I haven’t ignored the dog. She’s sweet, if a little too crazy at times, and needs to be taken out and fed.
So, yes, I’ve eliminated the news from my routine. I decided it was too much negativity, sadness, and anger to begin the day with. I’ve replaced it with something totally unexpected (even to me).
I now sit outside and look at the sky, the trees, and the flowers while listening to the birds. Truth be told, I am color-blind and couldn’t identify any species besides maybe a robin, a bluejay, and a cardinal. I use an app on my phone called Merlin Bird ID, which picks up the sounds of birds and identifies them.
This morning, there were a dozen different birds in the area, including a bald eagle, English starling, Carolina wren, gray catbird (truly the most annoying sound), mockingbirds, and more.
Starting my day with such a different feel is wonderful. It’s amazing to hear them all, even if I can’t see them or tell one from another (with rare exceptions).
Not polluting my spirit with the heart-wrenching news of politics, murder, mayhem, hate, and natural and unnatural disasters has had a profound impact on my day.
What can you do to make your day better?
What routine(s) can you alter to make your life more joyful and meaningful?
