I'm still working on tweaking the morning routine, this time by refining the ascending alarm timing and adding squats into the morning stretching too. I can sense when it starts to feel too routine and stale. I'm introducing a few modifications into my PM routine as well to keep it fresh. Lauren came with me to Pano. We stopped for breakfast at LGCafe. She had pancakes, and I had ham and eggs. I love their breakfasts. For 40 years now, come to think of it, back when it was "The Iron Skillet." Lauren made progress helping to work through things in her bedroom, finally. She found a slew of Tommy's prior hockey jerseys and some familiar clothes from her past as well. She took off with Anna, and I worked. I also cleared more clutter from the closets to ensure I had filled the bins for the Friday am pickup. I have three but hesitate to put them all out at once. They'll likely push back. I can't put into words what it's like going through so much of this stuff. I'm tossing what I consider "dollar store" level items, setting aside nicer things, and finding troves of things like cards and papers and so much ... "stuff." Stuff that would be worth having had it been seen, used, reviewed, or remembered. The quantity of glue, scissors, and like items reveals how she purchased redundant items frequently because the others were all lost from sight. It's challenging, this effort, as it heightens my compassion and aggravation in unison. I found and saved our wedding invitation and two sealed audio cd favor I made—something to hold onto for the kids. I also found and rescued her handwritten wedding vows. That was tough because they seemed genuine and sincere and may very well have been. I'll store them with the wedding album and the doves from Italy. I reached out to and confirmed brunch plans with my friend, who's just gone through some dependency issues. I'm hoping I can have a frank and direct dialog with him. I'm hoping he will listen. I'm hoping he shows up at all. Ironically I also had contact with another friend whose husband has gone dark for ten days. They're separated, and he's wrestling with alcoholism in a bad way. She's facing having to check on him in person and is hoping she finds him alive. He's ghosted his kids. Who does that? I don't comprehend it, but I, too, have felt the seductive tug of routine drinking and drugs that can sweep you gently away and to a place where the substantial undertow can pull you from safety and leave you drowning. I heard from Nevin tonight. He's working a show, sharing the joy, and expressing gratitude for the high-tech earplugs I gave him a couple of years back. It's on my list to reconnect in person in December. I revisited some BIG training steps tonight to prep for tomorrow's session, including practice facilitation with others. I'm hoping it revives my focus as it's been distracted recently with work and other demands.
Habits & Routines: Mediation Presence Gratitude Calm Action Friendship Family Exercise Weight↔︎