Probably not. I’m perfectly happy to let the river flow by while I sit on a rock and stare into the woods. As long as that proverbial river keeps flowing and the rock doesn’t fall apart and the woods don’t catch fire. Which is why I rarely get to do that, because something always needs my attention.
Like, for instance, my weight. I’d have been thrilled to just eat my way to my eighth or ninth decade. Until it became apparent to me that without me taking the wheel and being intentional about the way I eat and tune my body, I wouldn’t make seven decades, much less eight or nine.
Turns out lots of things are that way. I find that living intentionally – taking control of those things within my reach – is a hell of a good way to become “lucky.” I’ll write a whole post (with links) about that one day soon (which might mean tomorrow, might mean November), but for now, let me tell you about a (mostly) daily routine that gives me an strangely high sense of fulfillment.
About five evenings out of seven, I take five minutes or so to “set up” for the next morning’s breakfast. I get the coffee machine set (and almost always remember to push the “auto” button), find and sort everybody’s vitamins and such, lay out the bowls, cups and mugs and just generally prepare the kitchen for the onslaught of my sprightly daughters. The five-ish minutes I spend sometime before bed probably saves me fifteen the next morning.
But the time it saves isn’t the issue: I feel better at night knowing the morning is ready, and I can actually enjoy breakfast with the sprightly ones (my lovely wife usually handles the dressing and brushing, etc. while I shower and then I handle the breakfast while she showers). By taking control of the morning, I feel in control of the day. Everything flows better all day long.
The few days I don’t get around to preparing for breakfast, the next day starts in a hole. Which means climbing out of the hole becomes job one instead of whatever should have been job one.
What does this all have to do with losing weight and/or living healthier? This whole thing is about being in control of a part of my life that has been consistently, if privately, out of control. So every bit I can bring into control, the better it all works.
Skipping Dessert 