Reminders

The thought occured to me yesterday: my alarm clock is off.

Since our move to the city, I've been walking to and from work. It has been healthier for me to walk the 3 blocks down the hill each morning and, more especially, up the hill each evening. The three flights of stairs at the top of the hill help my aerobic health as well.

An extra result of my walks to work: no more public transportation.

I turned in my bus pass yesterday.

For twelve and a half years I regularly rode the bus to work. I didn't ride 100% of the time each week, but probably averaged in the high 80's over that period. The other rides were with members of my family. Especially when she needed to get away from home.

Still, my habit was to ride each day. Mornings were filled with scriptures, prayer and napping; afternoons with journal writing, reading and more napping. It was routine.

My routine has been shattered.

Yesterday I realized that since I no longer am bound by the bus schedule, I had no real concern about when my work day ended. I walked home later than normal.

Likewise, my morning schedule is looser than it was previously. I sleep in later than when I was a bus rider. And, since I no longer need to have my bus pass, I have left my employee ID at home. TWICE.

The first time, I was at the bottom of the hill when I realized my lack. I had to walk back up the hill and retrieve my ID. I swore to myself that it wouldn't happen again.

She dropped me off one morning, on her way out of town. I was in the Library and upstairs before I realized that I'd forgotten my pass (I couldn't get past the doors to my office...). I had to walk home again.

Each trip up the hill gets me better able to walk up the hill later.

Still another consequence of my turn away from public transportation: irregular journal keeping.

It takes more concerted effort to remember to sit down and write in my journal.

I have new habits to create. That can be a good thing.

I hope.