Setting a Regular Course

As a daughter of an alcoholic father, I grew up in a chaotic household never knowing what to expect; catastrophe or calm, anger or good humor, a gentle or harsh exchange of words. 

Then when I was 13, like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, my life was uprooted and I landed on my grandmother’s doorstep. There I discovered the wonders and comforts of my grandma’s life, one lived according to a regular and well ordered course.

Though Grandma’s life had changed over the years; moving off the family’s farm, marrying and raising her daughters and sons with more modern conveniences than her mother, some things remained the same. Grandma maintained healthy routines that helped her live a long and healthy life.

Though the time I lived with Grandma was short, less than a year, it was enough time to see and feel the difference between the chaotic household I’d come from and a structured one I’d landed in.

My parents were floundering. Alcohol was taking its toll on my father and living with an alcoholic was taking its toll on my mother and the rest of us. Though it was painful to be separated from Dad and my siblings, being shipped off to Grandma’s, in the long run, proved life saving for me. 

Grandma’s life counter balanced the effects of the tumultuous, messy and muddled household I’d come from. Her structured life of regular mealtimes with healthy foods and normal bedtimes made my life enjoyable. Though I did not join in with grandma as she exercised on the living room floor every morning, watching her left a lasting impression on me.

Her consistent routines in life gave her a healthy grit for life. Though three needy people; my little brother, my mother and I invaded her space she was not overwhelmed by us. Though our life was stormy, it did not create a storm in her life. Instead, her stormless life calmed ours. 

Why Bother?

Why bother setting a regular course for our lives? Establishing a regular course for our lives has to fit our lives. Keeping it simple makes it sustainable. Keeping our routines sustainable we are faced with fewer decisions, making life a lot more enjoyable for ourselves and others.

 P.S.  I wrote the story of my journey to forgiveness for those who, like me, know they need to change, but are not quite sure where to start. You can find A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.