Rituals

A very powerful word to someone with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

rit·u·al

/ˈriCH(o͞o)əl/

noun

1. 1.

   a religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

   
   

   "the role of ritual in religion"

related words:

procedure
habit
formality
custom
protocol

"Ritual", "Ceremony", "Routine". These are a few of my favorite things. ♬♬♬
All joking aside, I reach for these three terms so often within my daily verse, written word and private thought. I love these words. They are beautiful, but not particularly so. I love them because of their immense usefulness. The intention of the terms.

*puts fingertips to mouth and makes kissing sound while releasing phalanges in a delicate explosion*

Today I am writing about "ritual" because I was assessing how I go through my day. When I eat my meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) I typically make a ritual out of it; I take my time and eat with intention. I play music. Same thing when I clean up after myself and put dishes/clothes/things away. Same thing with my showers. Same thing when I write. Similar thing when I set up my space at my admin job. It really got me thinking -

How do I have time for anything?

I think finding beauty in the mundane is a great skill to have. I think it is one of the factors that aid in my typical contentedness. I am, however, beginning to wonder if I am going overboard. I talk about balance a lot, perhaps I should be making a conscious effort to apply balance to my ritualistic tendencies.

Related thought:
When you practice gratitude and appreciate (nearly) everything, even the smallest, simplest thing (action, gesture, item, thought) will seem like a gift. An event. A coffee becomes a special treat. Sitting to read. Running into a loved one. Wearing your favorite boots. When you see these everyday occurrences as remarkable - as apposed to the general masses, only considering an extravagantly priced dinner, outfit, trip, car to be "treating oneself" - there are so many more "treats" that are attainable. Which naturally leads to the likelihood to be greater and greater that one of these treats will find its way to you. And before you know it, everything becomes a special treat. So by practicing gratitude, are you, by your own law, overindulging? Which is affiliated with taking everything for granted? Irony?