My Routine of No Routine: Out the Door!

Often, I get asked, “Sam, what is your routine?” and this is because my schedule is very organic.?My response has been, “My routine is to not have a routine!”?For me, this best describes my days as I appreciate the opportunity to build out my schedule to what suits me.?Today was no different.

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This morning, I showered, was going to make a cup of tea and sit behind my laptop to do some work.?Easy enough, right?!?As I was looking at the kettle and about to fill the water, I decided to forgo my tea and instead, venture out.?I decided to head out on a mini adventure to hike Quarry Rock (which I had never been to).?With that thought, I was out the door.?There were many reasons to pass on the hike and easy enough to fall into the trap of looking at my work and saying, “I need to get this done.”…but I resisted the urge!

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I got to the parking lot and ventured out.?As I walked to the trail head, I looked up to an infinite amount of stairs and debated if I made the right choice.?I took a step forward and continued up the stairs.?There was a realization.?I am turning 61 soon and my youthful bounce was no longer there.?Physically, I may have some aches and pains, but my mind, heart and soul are certainly still youthful!?It was a bit of a huff and puff up the stairs but I got to the top…only to see more stairs.?I debated if this was a good decision but decided to carry on.?Step after step, I trudged through the forest trail.?With so few people on the path, I did a lot of thinking and reflecting.?Some thoughts emerged about my sense and feeling about turning 61.?

·??????A realization is that I can not stop aging but I can slow it down.?This is about taking better care of myself.?Maybe not giving up all my guilty pleasures but maybe making some healthier choices.

·??????To shut down and shut off.?The ease of just having a cup of tea and starting to work was an easy thing to do.?Getting up and out the door was difficult but not impossible and the hike was not too bad.?The hard part was talking myself into going.

·??????I did not rush to get from one part of the trail to the end, take a picture, turn around and head back.?Life is already too busy.?Take the time to walk and observe. ?I wanted to savour the moment like a beautiful painting or a special meal.

·??????Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary.?While walking, I would stop and admire the path before me.?It was quiet, apart from the birds chirping and the wind rustling through the trees.?Small things would stop me on my path.?For example, there was a small tree right in the middle and there was a pathway to the left and right of it…sort of a fork in the road.?It reminded me about the fork in the road we encounter in life and that once I take a side, I am back on the trail.

·??????It was about taking time to unwind and breathe.?We don’t do this enough.?With our devices and noise, maybe we need to decompress and unwind.?Not just our body but our mind.?Going for the walk allowed me to think a lot.

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What is your outlet??What is your routine of no routine…or share with me something you are going to do that is out of the ordinary!?Part of it is to take the step forward without resolve.?A lot packed in to this walk today.?It is not easy getting older but at the same time, I feel that I have accomplished some monumental things.?It is also about the people I am surrounded by.?So many bring me joy.?Challenges are certainly staring us in the face but it is about balancing the challenges with positivity and joy.?Take it from someone who is turning 61…time does not stand still and neither should you.?Go out and do some amazing or crazy thing.?Smile more, maybe drop a note to someone to say you are thinking about them.?We desperately need to share more of yourself.?If I have not told you lately, you are awesome!!!

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