24. Switch things up

I have a routine. I love my routine. I think it helps the day go by more quickly and it keeps me focused on the things I need to get done for the day.

My normal weekday goes like this. I get up at 6:20, take care of business in the bathroom, then head downstairs to turn on the coffee machine. I then go back to my room and change. Then it’s breakfast (usually granola and coffee) and I am usually out the door by 6:50. I drive to Forest Lake and I get on the bus at about 7:10. I usually sit in the third seat from the back on the left.

The bus departs from Forest Lake eight minutes later. I usually walk in the door at about 8:10. Most of the time I’ll go for a quick walk in the skyway before I sit down at my desk around 8:30. I grab my sandwich from the fridge at about 11:45. I head out for my lunch walk around 12:15 and head out for 30 minutes while listening to a podcast. When I get back to my office, I’ll make a cup of tea and plow through work until about 2:30, when I’ll take another 15 minute walk.

I get done with work at 4:30 and back home at about 6:00 p.m. I’ll then change and head to the gym where I’ll usually go on the treadmill for 5K. Then it’s  head home, take shower, eat dinner, write blog post and then watch some Netflix. I’ll usually make my lunch around 10:15 and then am in bed at about 10:30 where I’ll read for 20 to 30 minutes. I’ll turn out the light and it’s back at it again the next morning.

Wow, that was really boring to right out. My weekend routine is much more flexible, but it usually involves going to the Basilica for mass with my parents on Sunday mornings.

Today I switched it up. I was planning on meeting my friend Joe for brunch/lunch at about 12:30. I was going to attend the 11 a.m. mass, while my parents went to their usual one. I then realized there is no 11 a.m. mass at the Basilica. There was an 11:30, but I didn’t feel like adjusting plans.

I was getting anxious over what I should do. And then I remembered that, while I love the Basilica, there are other churches out there. I found a church close to where I was meeting Joe in Minneapolis. It was St. Stephen’s.

While it didn’t have the same aura as my normal church, it was a fine mass. The priest was also a chemistry professor at the University of St. Thomas. I made it through and I had a great lunch with Joe.

While I enjoy my routine, it’s OK to switch things up. Not many people get far in life by relying on tunnel vision.