Rituals, or habits, do not have to last through eternity. They can be changed any time – and many times – throughout life. It is simply a matter of willingness to do some housecleaning when awareness brings a desire for change.
This type of housecleaning is for more than one's surrounding household. It involves going within to do some sorting and tossing of habits, choosing what to keep and what to release. It involves looking at one's attitude about how time is occupied. Are there desirable new rituals to establish?
Some people have daily or weekly habits they would like to remove. It isn't always easy to discard projects that have imbedded themselves into routine acts over the years. The first thing necessary is to identify them. With pencil and paper in hand, imagine dividing the habits into two stacks: those desirable to keep and those to toss.
Beginning with early morning hours, what activities fill that time? Desirable or undesirable? Write it on the appropriate pile. Continue through the day. Would it be more desirable to get the bed made and dishes washed before watching a favorite television program? This may require moving the extended time for having early morning coffee to the undesirable stack. Getting necessary household chores done early can relieve concern about dirty dishes in the sink if someone stops by. Or it may be just the opposite. Some people feel an urgency to do housework before taking a bit of quiet time. This may take practice and experimenting to discover what activity or non-activity works best for you.
Usually developing a desirable habit works best by slotting it in with a standard activity to completely eliminate an undesirable one. When a new, desirable habit can be added to an established habit, it helps plant it for permanency.
Breaking a routine such as driving the same route to the store each week, taking a few side streets instead, can bring a refreshing sense of adventure. It helps stimulate the desire for more awareness in the surrounding world.
Writing just a short note or sending a "thinking of you" card to a friend or family member could be a welcome weekly routine. Simply being reminded that someone is thinking about them, people feel loved when they receive a special note. And this act may often bring a warm reply.
Getting out for exercise is often on the preferred list but has a way of being ignored. A healthy activity such as a short walk can be added into a time slot to become a daily ritual. It is a fun time for new discovery.
The endeavor may be only one daily activity or one or two weekly activities. Ritual offers a sense of organization and brings good feelings about one's self. When could it be fit in and given a specific amount of time each week?
A preference, for health reasons, may be to eat a larger meal at noon rather than in the evening. This can be a gradual change with a lighter supper and healthy fruit snack later in the evening.
Rather than plopping in front of the television in the evening with nothing seemingly better to do, if you once played the piano or other instrument, or you want to learn one, go to it.
It is healthy for seniors to exercise the mind to keep it pliable. Memorizing might be a good project that can be included with morning and bedtime personal hygiene. My mom works crossword puzzles as soon as the newspaper arrives and goes through them quickly to help keep her mind alert. She says watching "Wheel of Fortune" on television is for that purpose, too.
As my son pointed out, some people do not have many rituals. They employ different activities and enjoy whatever is at hand. I have found, however, that as we get older, our time is our own and we tend to slip into routines to avoid boredom. Sometimes they are just monotonous activities without thought of whether they bring pleasure. The question to ask is whether we are enjoying these routines.
Cleaning one's inner house can be a refreshing experience. It brings relief to be rid of all the clutter and anticipation in what to add as new inner furniture. Even just rearranging existing furniture can bring new delight.
Once this inner housecleaning is accomplished, treasure the reward of truly enjoying every moment!