Rituals and habits, nesting and otherwise

I am a creature of habit. A type A personality who likes order. Someone who finds clutter distracting from creativity. Even a less than mindfully originated set of commitments in my calendar can easily become a source of stress.

There are certain things that give me peace, most of which relate to the state of my home environment. An overflowing fruit bowl. A freshly washed kitchen floor. A distinct lack of laundry and ironing to be done. And yes, I make the bed every morning.

For the past 8 years or so, my morning routine has involved a good (although increasingly slow) run, stretch and shower. When BabyBear hit the scene, that run became a walk. Over the past week or so, however, I've missed more morning walks than I have taken. Partly it's the snowy sidewalks. Partly it's the knowledge that we won't control our waking time much longer. Mostly it's the ache that I've developed in my lower back that gets worse whenever I'm vertical.

Inspired by this afternoon's sunshine, PapaBear and I ventured out for a walk. We made it one whole kilometer before I climbed my front steps and headed upstairs for a nap. I clutched his supportive arm much of the way, tentatively taking granny steps and surely not burning any calories.

This marks the final phase of my fitness progression. I once ran marathons and now I do marathon sessions of yoga. Fingers crossed that it keeps me mobile for a few more months. And if I'm lucky, my nesting activities will burn a few calories when I'm not looking.