We all follow daily rituals and routines. Every day upon awakening I go out into the kitchen and make coffee which I enjoy after a healthy glass of orange juice. Every day I make a circuit of each room in the house, tidying up where needed. Every day I make my bed before moving on to the other multiple tasks that make up my morning.
Our rituals are often simple yet surprisingly comforting. They speak to us of familiarity and stability; they offer us security in their sameness. When something occurs that disturbs our daily routine, we may feel slightly off like something is missing.
We begin our rituals the day we come into this world. Babies benefit from a regular routine of feeding, napping and nurturing. Older children are comforted by the routines set for them by their parents such as reading a story each night and going to bed at the same time. When these daily routines are followed, all seems right with the world.
While working in a medical office where many of the patients were elderly, I witnessed first hand how important rituals are as we age. Older folks who remained in the familiar surroundings of their homes seemed to fare far better than those who were moved into a new living situation. Even people suffering from early dementia continued to manage far longer in the familiarity of their homes while following the same rituals that went back many, many years.
Most of us follow a cycle of birthdays and holidays, marking them each year in similar fashion. Our lives are made up of common cyclical events such as starting school, graduating from college, getting married, starting a family and retiring. We tend to worship in the same way and even bury our dead with sameness. They are all the rituals that make up our lives and they are as important to our well-being as the food we eat and the air we breathe, for by following them we remain connected to all mankind.
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Hi Nancy! I am enjoying your blog very much- I love your writing style, and your subjects are close to my heart. I have been retired for just over a week, so I am definitely in that confused stage! Your website’s name brought a smile; my dad sang that song (and a lot of others) often. Keep on writing!
Thank you, Shirley! So good to hear from you. Retirement is a HUGE change for us girls who have been working since we were kids, but you will adjust – just give it time 🙂
Hi Nancy
What a great job on this this blog! I knew you were talented but this is beyond my expectations. Good luck on your next adventures. I wish you nothing but great health, happiness and prosperity.
Love
Tina N.
Thank you so much for your uplifting comment! So glad you are enjoying my blog!