66 Days

If you do something for sixty-six days it will most likely become a habit. Sixty-six days, researchers say. Is this why I cry every day? I cannot remember a day that I did not cry over something. I fall sleep pondering issues of the world. What can be done to make improvements? I wake up to new additions to my list of things to analyze and correct. Where is my lane? Do I have just one lane or many? 

Being human gives me all the permission necessary to have a heart towards all of humanity in its many forms. Although, we have one heart, there are multiple chambers, valves, and vessels, taking in and bleeding out. As with everything in our lives. We take in everything in our surroundings through our senses and try our best to make sense of the information. Some things bring us negative reactions while others, positive. Then there are the numerous stimuli that our spirits are unable to contain or define, so we reject those. 

In times such as these, I become both burdened and blessed with increased time to think. What are the things that you are missing in your life right now? If you are in the category of people complaining about the suspension of sporting events, closures of restaurants, amusement parks, hair and nail salons, and movie theaters, we are very different humans. If your definition of oppression is not being able to attend social functions, concerts, entertainment venues, and shopping malls, I cannot relate. If your belief that traveling, drinking expensive spirits, and wearing over-priced name brands is an essential way of life, I am sorry for you. 

This is the time that we ought to look critically into our lives and what we value. Whatever we miss most from our so-called normal lives is what we value the most. What do you find yourself being grateful for? I am grateful for my life and the three lives my body has brought forth. I am thankful for my physical and mental health. I am thankful for my husband and our friendship. I am grateful for my home, job, food, and car. I am thankful for the opportunity of receiving an education. I am thankful to be able to serve others in my community. 

I could continue listing everything that I am thankful for in my life to include the ocean, birds, flowers, and so on, but never will this include useless material things. I do not deserve anything that I have been blessed with at this time in my life. Knowing this keeps me from becoming greedy and ungrateful. I know what it feels like to be poor, hungry, and lonely. These experiences keep me grounded and compassionate.

The awareness of the horrible realities so many in this world find themselves in right now brings  me to tears. The undeserved  evil treatment they continually receive is what keeps me crying. My conscience  makes me feel guilty for my self-absorption, weakness, and self-pity. Our lives were never created simply for ourselves and our own pleasures; but instead, what we can offer to others in the world.  

For the next sixty-six days what habits shall I practice? Will it be praying and meditating more often? Maybe it will be to begin organizing my passions into purpose. Hopefully, I will continue exercising. Or perhaps, I may become more disciplined with my writing.  I could possibly submit articles to journals or write letters to policy-makers. I might read more purposefully and share my thoughts with a new podcast. I could paint, draw, and be creative. 

Whatever it may be, my hopes are always to bring more love, light, encouragement, and joy into spaces.

What habits are you going to practice during the next sixty-six days? 

Whatever it is, be the light.