Habits

Happy Friday!

I welcome you to this week's edition on "Habits" (#233).?

A family relative with their infant is visiting us this week. It's fascinating to watch a baby as they go about their day. What catches my attention the most is their curiosity - their eagerness to explore everything around them with the utmost focus. However, somewhere down the line, by the time they become adults, they almost always lose that sense of curiosity. Losing that sense is one thing, but becoming rigid with one's own beliefs and unwillingness to change is another.

Let's do some introspection: Consider your daily routine. You most likely arise at a regularly appointed hour, relying on the comforting ritual of a hot beverage to jump-start your day. As you begin your work, there’s a consistent pattern to your activities which may include emails, conference calls, lunch, more work, and additional emails. Upon reaching home, you may exercise a bit, eat dinner, watch TV, and hit the bed. These everyday rituals, ranging from your choice of morning beverage to your workout routine, television preferences, and how you handle work communications have solidified into an established pattern. After all, that's why we say, "Humans are creatures of habit."

What if we dared to push our boundaries, to challenge our established habits and routines? It's easy to voice such sentiments, but much harder to enact them. Still, let's draw inspiration from the world around us. For instance, in over a century of the American political system, we never saw a sitting president opt out of seeking re-election. Despite political motivations, this change challenged previous notions of what was seemingly impossible. Thus, the unfeasible was made feasible, reminding us that change is indeed possible.

I urge you to approach the next week with the mindset of an infant. Explore freely, question openly, and absorb new knowledge. Rediscover the excitement in novelty and change. Challenge the semblance of your usual cup of coffee, your preset workout moves, or the habitual choice of TV show. Seek difference, diversity, and challenge. Embrace change within your routines and habits. After all, continued growth and learning are only possible if we're willing to step outside our comfort zones.

Remember, it's never too late to rediscover the eager, curious child within us and rekindle our zest for life. In closing, I'd like to leave you with a quote from American writer Mark Twain that simplifies this beautifully, "The secret of getting ahead is getting started."?

So, let's start afresh, let's move forward with an open mindset, let's step into the new week ready to break some habits and make some new ones. Let us keep exploring, stay curious, and embrace change!

?Wishing you a Happy and Reflective weekend!