Why Make Some Changes?

At the risk of sounding a little crazy, I would like to propose a challenge of mixing it up and changing things around.

My inspiration for this came from multiple sources. The first source was when I worked with some patients who fractured their humerus on their dominant side. Needless to say these patients had to do everything with the other hand. I mean everything; please use your imagination.

(Okay, I am talking about the ADL of toileting.)

Some people would find changing their dominance for this or anything else difficult if not nearly impossible.  This could be that we are able to do many things better with one side, or that the muscles and joints have accommodated to specific use.

Another source for my inspiration is that I have certain habits from which I feel I cannot deviate. I like my habits. This includes, of course, my eating habits, my sleeping habits, my television habits, and my time alone that I cherish. I like to be in my home, and I wonder how I would fare if I were the one forced to change the habits I rely on today.

My challenge for you is to mix it up; use different hands for different tasks when you are able, change your route to drive to work, and mix up your routine on a daily basis. Try new foods or a new hobby or exercise. I am a person who thrives on routine. I feel as though I have less stress on a routine.

As you might guess, the universe keeps changing things up. For instance when I am counting on a certain amount of hours of work and a big snowstorm changes the situation, I feel disgruntled to say the least. I would like to be able to fully enjoy the changes that pop up in this instance, like enjoying the ability to go out and shovel the snow.

I often wonder if I would be able to make the changes that we expect of our patients. Does the phrase "set in my ways" come to mind? I know I can make these changes; I did it when I went to live with my parents to help care for my mother as she was recuperating from a serious illness. Definitely I was in a different routine, and being uprooted really got me thinking about this concept of flexibility.

One of my "habits" is my morning coffee that I have assumed to be the only way to start my day. I had one morning where I got busy with a walk outside and totally forgot the coffee. I believe the walk gave me energy! Prior to this I always thought that I couldn't function in the morning without drinking my coffee.

Well, I can function without it. I drank the coffee much later, and it tasted even better than I remembered! I am now expanding my thinking around this. What else have I assumed could only be looked at one way? How can I problem solve by looking at situations in different ways? And lastly, uh, who said my way was always best? How can I be more flexible?

Deepak Chopra says that flexibility is the key to immortality. I will definitely "mix up" my routine again! I do this in the hope of making my life happier by rolling with the punches, and to also have more empathy for those whose routine has been taken from them.

Warm regards,

Lorraine