Timely essay! I was thinking this morning about routine vs ritual. Depending on my mood, the idea of Routine can easily bore me, make me feel as if I'm in a rut of the same o same o. But if I change that perspective to that of Ritual...then it becomes a necessary "habit" or rather a mindful thing that I must do in order to do what follows and that is usually "do whatever I feel like doing" as a reward-like thing that makes doing the Whatever more meaningful.......like creating art, or organizing stuff, even cleaning the house, writing a letter to someone, etc. I've gotten the ritual taken care of (or the routine over and done with) and can now look forward to doing anything else I want to.
Yeah Annette. The routine part is just keeping the bones in place. The activity of staying engaged so that inspiration, when it comes, finds your mind muscles in good enough shape to do stuff. It builds endurance and fluidity. Hence reducing frustration because you are prepared and remember where your stuff is!
As always, love your writing.
I have been practicing this for 20 years now, since my retirement, and inspiration comes every day. What a marvelous medium is collage !
Yes, it is wonderful for carrying an ongoing conversation with the materials and yourself.
Timely essay! I was thinking this morning about routine vs ritual. Depending on my mood, the idea of Routine can easily bore me, make me feel as if I'm in a rut of the same o same o. But if I change that perspective to that of Ritual...then it becomes a necessary "habit" or rather a mindful thing that I must do in order to do what follows and that is usually "do whatever I feel like doing" as a reward-like thing that makes doing the Whatever more meaningful.......like creating art, or organizing stuff, even cleaning the house, writing a letter to someone, etc. I've gotten the ritual taken care of (or the routine over and done with) and can now look forward to doing anything else I want to.
Yeah Annette. The routine part is just keeping the bones in place. The activity of staying engaged so that inspiration, when it comes, finds your mind muscles in good enough shape to do stuff. It builds endurance and fluidity. Hence reducing frustration because you are prepared and remember where your stuff is!