Human beings seem to be a complicated lot. On one hand, we crave excitement, novelty and adventure. On the other hand, we crave predictability and routine.
Case in point: Breakfast. When I worked in my dad's restaurant as a kid, we could call in the person's NAME as they walked in, to the cook and she could fix their breakfast. Because almost everyone ordered the exact same thing for breakfast every day. (My theory is, it's hard to embrace excitement, novelty and adventure first thing in the morning.) There were a handful of people we knew we had to ask, because they made a point of mixing it up.
So even as someone like me embarks on a new careers as an artist and craftsperson, I still cling to routine to get through the day.
But I've been feeling bored with the predictability and routine lately. I actually realized a few weeks ago that I dreaded the thought of making new work.
When did it stop being fun?
I realized I was anticipating making "more of the same". So I started changing....everything. But in very small doses.
Small changes. Just enough to make one thing different.
And it's working.
Last night I went to my evening kickboxing class instead of the morning class like I usually do. It was DIFFERENT! More people, a different instructor, more intensity. I was exhausted by my workout, but exhilarated, too. I hadn't worked that hard in a long time. Switching to the night class also let me work uninterrupted all day, something hard to do when your studio is in your home.
I got my first major massage last week, an hour-long session to loosen a tight shoulder and an aching back. Oh. My. God. I'm in heaven! And I can move my shoulder! Best of all, the therapist thought the problem was all muscular, not the joint or a rotator cuff issue as I'd thought. Whew! A huge weight off my mind....
I gave myself permission to explore a new artifact for wall hangings. I'd held off before, not sure how it would fit into the rest of my work. But I did it, and it fits beautifully. Best of all, it was FUN!
I followed up on a new idea for sculptures, too, courtesy of one of my customers this summer. They look great.
And this week, on impulse, my husband suggested we take a quick trip out west over the holidays. We've never done anything like that before. It may not work out—gosh, who are all those other people flying out west for the holidays??—but it's been fun planning the trip.
You don't have to buy airline tickets to make a big change in your life. Just do one thing different today.
One little thing.
