A glimpse into the life and thoughts of an artist

Like Clockwork 

Every night between eight and nine pm, our house gecko, we've named him "Bob", skitters out of his hiding spot and travels across the living room walls. He stops to hide behind the painting of five anthurium, skitters off behind the TV, and finally behind the bamboo curtain.

We never see him on his return trip, but I'm sure he's on a schedule.

An early morning swim at Kaimana Beach Park is a favorite summertime exercise routine of mine.  

With every lap I see "my" favorite fish in their usual hangouts. There is the Hawai`i state fish, the Trigger Fish, a.k.a. the Humu Humu Nuku Nuku Apua`a, the puffer fish, the Christmas Wrasse, sometimes a Moorish Idol. When I want to see a Parrot fish I go to Hanauma Bay. 

I never realized that the natural world was made up of creatures
of habit until I witnessed it in the ocean fishes and island geckos.

I know the benefit of habit and routine. I love a day off, a holiday, a vacation, as much as you do. Yet sometimes I struggle to get back into focus and on task when the holiday has passed.

That is when my good friend, my morning routine, helps me the most.

For at least 30 years (I know, yikes!), mornings have been MINE! Even when I had to be at work at 6AM, I made sure I had an hour to myself to sit, sip coffee or tea, read something inspirational, and journal.

No, I don't fit everything into every morning, but I do fit most of it into most of my mornings. This is my time and I protect it fiercely. It is the reason I get up before anyone else in the house wakes up.  

This one ritual keeps me focused and balanced, so this is actually good for anyone who comes into contact with me! It's my gift to all of you. 

We all have habits, some of them good, others, not so much. Some of them we don't even know we have. Some we learned from our parents (think: brushing your teeth). Others we've developed over the years.

Changing our habits can be a challenge, but sometimes it is necessary. We only have so many waking hours available, and we get to decide how to best use our time.  

When life is going well, when we feel we are making progress, no change is needed. Sometimes we feel as though we reach a sticking point. We want to move forward but can't seem to get traction. Maybe the time has come to shift our habits slightly. Maybe we need to use our time differently.  

Perhaps it is time to take stock of life. Where are we now? Where would we like to be? Does anything have to change in order for us to get there? What can be different, and how?

I'm still thinking about all of this and will get back to you in two weeks.