Such a Creature of Habit

Found on my porch: 9 rusty nails
Latest movie watched in the theatre: Open Season
In the Attic: An awareness of my routines

A conversation with a friend last night got me thinking about how many routines I have in my life. I am a person who thrives on routine and predictability. I never really think about it, however, unless I'm talking with someone who is different than me in that department. Without my routines, I feel insecure and uncomfortable. Uncertain as to when I would accomplish mundane tasks, worried that I'd leave out critical pieces of my day.

Take a look at my morning routine:
1. I get up each morning 10 minutes after the alarm goes off so that I can hear the weather report and plan my clothing accordingly.

2. I shower in the same order: shampoo hair, wash face, rinse hair and face; condition hair, wash body, rinse hair and body.

3. I towel dry in the same order: face, hair, upper body and arms, lower body and legs. I wrap the towl around me in the same way each morning.

4. I get dressed in the same order: underwear, bra, pants, shirt.

5. I dry my hair, style my hair, and apply makeup. All in that order.

6. I even wrap the cord around the hair dryer in the same way each morning.

7. I eat the same type of breakfast each morning, and pack my lunch afterwards.

8. I brush my teeth and apply deodorant, in that order.

9. I drive the same way to work and park in the same place every day.

I certainly didn't set out to have a nine-step morning routine when I grew up. I really didn't even know it was there, until this morning, when I noticed that the cord to the hair dryer was wrapped up differently - alerting me to the facts that 1) my friend had used it while visiting, and 2) I have a very solid routine guiding me in the morning. (see item #6)