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Disruptions


Life lesson: Embrace change, whether in small increments or large.

Woman hiding in shed

I am having new flooring installed in my house today. The house is a mess. Furniture is scattered everywhere. There is grinding and hammering, just a lot of noise. This is very disruptive to my tranquility, so I am hiding out in my shed.


I have to keep checking on the workers even though I know that isn’t my responsibility, but I have found from previous projects that workers sometimes make decisions that are inconsistent with our contract. Checking on them is disruptive to my escape in the shed.


I am hoping the majority of the work will be completed today. I certainly don’t want to face this disruption in my home and mind for many more days.


It is soothing to have everything remain the same. I know where things are when the house is quiet, and while that isn’t totally pleasant either, it is preferable to this invasion of my peace and privacy.


This is opening a new door for me. I liked the flooring I had, but it was becoming worn and I’m sure I don’t want to know what was hiding in the carpeting. Opening new doors is major. Who knows what lies on the other side?


It is comfortable to have familiarity. It doesn’t take a lot of energy to remain the same, and making changes entails risks. What if the change is undesirable? What if it is not done correctly? What if the workers don’t come back after the first day?


I tend to get into habits, some of which are good and some not so good. I watch the same TV program, eat the same breakfast and make the same trip to the same grocery, typically on the same day.


Habits promote complacency. I may not want to expend the energy, and face the fear and risk that change demands. Oftentimes, I just don’t want my life to become disrupted.


I think there are consequences to not permitting disruption in my life. I can get real cerebral about this. I can become enmeshed in routine, and demand sameness, whether it is appropriate or not. I hope I do not demand that others adhere to my routine. I could become unpleasant. I could pitch mini-tantrums by admonishing sales people and restaurant staff for not having my favorite, and familiar, items. That would be extremely self-destructive.


Needless to say, these kinds of behaviors can rapidly become self-defeating. Others are usually not anxious to endure obnoxious behaviors. It doesn’t take long to eliminate the whiner or unpleasant one from any interaction. Herd animals require a certain amount of complacency. Those that become too extreme become ostracized or banned.


In another escape from the noise, I encountered my neighbor on the street. I mentioned I was attempting to get back into shape after sitting for many years with my ill spouse. She shared one way to do that was to increase activity by one percent each day. That is excellent advice. Small steps are much easier to endure than major disruptions in routine. Adding just a little bit every day is much more likely to result in permanent improvement.


I have to remember I cannot re-enter life comfortably by throwing away everything with which I have become accustomed. I can, however, take one day at a time and make a one percent alteration in one habit or routine that has become troublesome. You can too.


Let me know how you are doing. I care.


Sincerely,

Lynn Brooke


© 2023 Our New Chances

Photo Credit: © 2023 Rachel Gareau

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