Just Getting Back in the Habit

Everything is always easier when it's a habit. Working out, going to church, having a daily quiet time, reading with your kids before bed, whatever the activity, making it a part of your routine just makes it easier. Blogging, for instance, was no big thing when I did it 6 days a week, but the idea of developing a meaningful post is beyond daunting after taking an extended break.

Three years ago, I would have never imagined that there would come a day when I would work out five days a week without a thought. In fact, my body aches horribly if I go more than two days without a workout. On the other hand, I can't run without tremendous amounts of pain the next day. Edwin ran cross country for ten years, and now he can run two miles without much of a struggle, even if he goes for weeks without running. I'm trying to get to the place where I can join him on his runs, but it's going to take a lot of work. It's going to require me to make the conscious choice to experience discomfort for a while in order to achieve my goal.

I'm not really happy about that.

Every habit begins as a choice. Habits are formed as a series of consistent decisions to go against the old normal in order to develop a new kind of normal. Today I'm choosing to blog about the choice to blog. Thrilling, I know. It's never easy to get back into a habit once it's lost, but some habits are worth it.