I like to clip pages from magazines and write in the margins of books. This morning I was going through some papers and found a page that was torn out of something. It was headed with a quote by Maya Angelou: "Break with Routine. What happened to spontaneity? At what point did you lose the right to do something in your day just because you feel like it at the moment - just because you are alive? Because of our routines we forget that life is an ongoing adventure."

The page goes on and lists various things you might try:
"Escape the treadmill of predictability. Wear colored socks. Re-tune the radio to Beethoven or Mariachi music for awhile. Buy a vegetable or fruit you've never tried before. Write a love letter. Do something brilliant. Play "what if" money was no object."   

The idea is to take yourself by surprise. I think I have fallen into a routine of predictability despite having freedom to do whatever I please with my days. Since I don't have a conventional job and because I currently don't have much of an income, I have self-imposed rules on myself, in order to justify my existence. I do chores and try to validate that I have done things worthwhile during my day while others have had to work long frustrating hours.

Upon reflection not very healthy or much of a tribute to the fact that I am currently a survivor. Celebration is in order. I need to give myself permission to break with routine and to dare to try the new things I often dream about and plan to do "someday". My someday is now. Okay courage take hold - not going to wait until New Years to make a resolution. Intead, I will embrace the gift of today cherish it, give thanks and instead of trying to figure everything out ENJOY. Time to fully become ME. Time to surprise myself. Time to break routine.