Dear Reader,

Whether you drive to work, or just walk to another room in the house, my friend calls it commute time. You could also call it switching gears.

As you might have guessed, I’ve been experiencing some commute times a lot lately. Grandbaby time; drive time; private sessions; laundry; some cooking; even a bit of knitting—oh, and when I get really extravagant, time with friends.

Switching gears so often has raised my awareness of habits and routines. The soap is on the left, the toothbrush is on the right. Early in the morning I have coffee. When I drive my car, my purse goes in this spot; when I drive someone else’s car, I have to find a spot.

Babies are a great reminder not to get too settled into one particular routine. About the time you figure out that they sleep around a certain time, they decide that’s play time. When they’re a little older, you find their favorite snack and take it everywhere you go. Then, one day, they’ve had enough of that, and the new favorite didn’t get packed.

Habits and routines are so great. We can do so many things without having to think about how to do them. We can walk and talk at the same time. We can drive and listen to the radio. We can fix breakfast and plan the day.

The paradox is that if we hold onto the habits or routines too tightly, we become rigid. Every now and then, it’s good to shake things up. Drive a different route to the usual spot. Go on vacation. Read a book that’s not in your usual genre. Stand on one foot instead of two. Walk more slowly than you’re used to—or more quickly. Listen to someone you’re likely to disagree with.

Life is rich and complex, and there’s so much to explore and enjoy. And, every now and then, just sit. Really. Just sit. It’s not actually a waste of time.

Have all the fun you can!

Reminder: no weekly online Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement lessons until Tuesday, August 18.

In the meantime, you can still schedule private sessions for Feldenkrais, coaching or felt-making. Simply Book an Appointment and we can talk about what you’re most interested in. Or you can reply to this email, and we’ll set up a time to chat.

Watch for details: I’ll be teaching an in-person Feldenkrais mini-retreat and a felt-making workshop—both at the Jung Center of Houston, this fall.