Rituals Interrupted - Tracy Krauss

 Rituals and routines help us stay organized and productive. I don't mind admitting that I am a creature of habit, and although I like to think I am also flexible and able to pivot when necessary, there is comfort, and satisfaction - yes, even JOY - in maintaining my daily routines. 

It's why this past summer, although wonderful and exciting in many ways, has also been quite stressful. Last month in my post called "Distracted", I mentioned some of the things that have sent my routines spiraling: a sudden move to a house that is yet unfinished; surprise twins born to one of my daughters; more than one set of company; traveling for work...

Where there's a will there's a way. I still need coffee!

I made it back from my teacher's convention on September 2 to a house in chaos. Literally. Since we had to be out of our home by the end of August and our "new-to-us" home isn't fully renovated yet, we had to put all our belongings in the basement. We're still living in a construction zone, shuffling stuff from one room to the next as the flooring gets laid, with limited electrical outlets, no kitchen, and plumbing installed in only one bathroom. (Thank the Lord for small mercies!)

Did I mention no internet? Talk about my routines being interrupted! As an online support teacher, September is my busiest month of the year as I conduct parent meetings, set students up in courses, find resources, and write Student Learning Plans...  all of which is impossible without the internet! So, I've been using my phone as a hotspot and trying to find quiet places to "crouch" to do my work. One day I sat in the car because it was so noisy in the house!

But things are looking up. As I write this (more than a week early, I admit) I am comfortably writing at my daughter's kitchen table and using her internet. Oh... the reason for this is because she just had a baby. (Not the one who had twins. We have been blessed with three new granddaughters in the past six weeks!) I'm looking after the two-year-old... You can imagine how much work - and writing - I am getting done. (Not!)

Listing my preferred routines almost seems ridiculous after the summer I've had. They seem so far, far away - from a distant past that might never happen again. Of course, I'm being overly dramatic. Prior to June (when I got very sick with Covid, followed by my husband changing jobs, followed by us putting our house up for sale and it selling within three days...) my daily work and writing habits were well established. 

Prayer, Bible reading and devotions, journalling, emails, writing/editing, marketing tasks... everything had its place. Using online tools like Asana, even long-term goals were part of the mix. These days I am lucky if I get a daily shower! 

However, I know that this is just a temporary phase. Soon enough I will be able to get back to my routines. In the meantime, I have a little boy who needs my attention!

When life isn't spinning out of control, Tracy writes from her home in northern BC. Visit her website for all her books and plays: https://tracykrauss.com