Breaking Routine

“As long as habit and routine dictate the pattern of living, new dimensions of the soul will not emerge.”
-Henry Van Dyke

As a teenager and young adult I was bored frequently.  I spent a lot of time running around looking for the next new thing or as I like to say today the next fix of entertainment that life could offer me.  Today, as I’m much older and wiser (or so I like to think), I have actually come to rely on routines.  I have a morning routine, a routine with my work schedule and an evening routine.  My routines keep me on track.  They allow me to take care of myself and offer me a way to keep my days feeling fairly productive and focused.  My routines offer me the comfort of predictability that makes me feel safe.

My routines, however, can also really dull my spirit if I do not move out of them now and again.  Last night was one of those nights.  A girlfriend of mine and I went up to DC to have dinner with one of her friends and then off to a performance another one of her friends was holding.  We had such a wonderful time.  It was really fun to leave work in the middle of the afternoon, take the drive across the bridge, and become immersed in the different restaurants, styles, and sounds of a city steeped in a multicultural energy that was palpable.

As we were driving back I was reviewing the night.  The food we ate, the people we met, the show we saw and the surroundings of DC.  It was not just pleasurable, it was an experience.  I got to expand my views based on my new experiences.  I realized how important it was for my soul and mind’s growth.  Experience and knowledge is what continues to broaden our experiences and make us feel that our lives are dynamic.

I might go back to DC for a weekend, or maybe plan a different trip.  I’m not sure.  What I am sure of is that it is really important for me to get out of my routine at frequent intervals.  How about you?  Have you gotten out of your routine lately?