To keep a healthy rhythm of life I find it helpful to have a few defining rituals that mark out the borders of my activity.
One of my favourites is unloading all of reticulation gear from my car every Thursday afternoon. I don’t need to unload necessarily as I don’t need the boot space over the weekend, but the act of unhitching the trailer and taking all of my equipment out says simply ‘this part of the week is over’. When a call comes on Friday morning there isn’t a temptation to squeeze it in because I have everything with me. It simply has to wait until Tuesday when I begin work again. All my gear is stored in boxes so its a 3 minute exercise to unload, but it marks a shift in my psyche. I am now unavailable to do those jobs.
I also put the phone on silent/vibrate for most of Friday to Monday, so instead of that loud ‘old phone’ ring tone (which I need when working outside) but seems to blare ‘ANSWER ME NOW!’ there is a quiet buzz and which actually means I respond differently. I look at the number and decide if I want to answer it, or if it can wait. And when I answer it I can do so calmly. I don’t miss many calls because I am still aware of the buzzing, but it is less intrusive into my world.
Also on either Thursday or Friday afternoon I usually wash and vacuum the car. Again, not a monumental event by any stretch, but I like a clean car – it feels much better to drive – and having it freshly cleaned is another marker of a week of physical work coming to an end. I wash off the sprinkler stains and enjoy seeing the shine of the paintwork. While I’m washing the car I set the coffee roaster going and knock up a fresh batch of beans for the week ahead. I enjoy the smell of the beans and the opportunity to sniff around the shed while I wait from them to finish.
Another ritual I’ve had for as long as I can remember is to make Saturday AM a time to sleep late and then read the paper. Sleeping late these days generally means staying in bed until 7.30… but its still nice to recognise Saturday as the one day of the week when I don’t have to be up and at em. (Try and get me to do anything early on a Saturday and you will be battling…) Reading Saturday’s paper has always been a relaxing thing to do, although this is one ritual I find less rewarding, possibly because so much news reading and general reading is now done online and via a tablet.
In reality I never stop being a Christian leader from Tuesday to Thursday and I am still a retic bloke on the other days of the week, but the rituals help me adjust the dials in regards to focus.
I have other rituals which would probably take the form of spiritual disciplines, (morning prayer / evening examen etc) but they are probably more predictable and expected. What I’ve discovered in the practice of these small things is that give better shape to my identity and they allow me to regulate life more intentionally.
Got any rituals?
What’s your favourite?…
I have a ritual where my children climb into my bed and say, “eat Daddy.”
I have been trying to cycle in the early morning, around 5am, though dark right now it’s a peaceful time and a great way to start the day.
I have a ritual where my children climb into my bed and say, “eat, Daddy.”
I have been trying to cycle in the early morning, around 5am, though dark right now it’s a peaceful time and a great way to start the day.
5.00am is very early Gaz 🙂
I have a ritual on Sunday mornings that I got from a post by Alan Creech (that I can’t find now). I wake up early and do the dishes from the night before by hand. I used to get up and read/pray–which was nice–but the simple action of dipping, wiping, rinsing, and drying provides an even richer environment for reflection. At the same time I serve my wife and family.
We don’t go to Sunday services right now so my church of suds is the closest I get.
The other ritual I notice is my morning toilette. The entire process from sleep to “ready for work” is exactly the same every day. I reflect on the fact that we have been given bodies (and will be given new bodies in the future) and that inhabiting this mass of tissues means certain tasks that we cannot escape. We must care for ourselves and in doing that we see the need to care for others. Again, about the most mundane ritual there is but I take it as a regular reminder of my humanity.
I do an Ocean swim every Sunday morning with the Surf Club through winter regardless of rain, hail or shine or swell. It clears the head and acts as an anchor away from the pressures and politics of the office.
that would have been fun today Rich!
Could not get the IRB out past the break – so had a nonsanctioned unofficial swim and got hammered. Principle still applies … Regular immersion in cold salt water is good for the body, mind and soul!
what an awesome post hamo. I love it. I’ll try and take something out of it.