I am maybe bad at forming habits. Which can be very helpful. Like, my smoking habit didn't last too long. Haven't yet felt in danger of forming other harmful habits/addictions. I do brush my teeth and put on deodorant every day. My mom helped shame me into forming those habits in my early teens.
But I sure would like to be able to form new habits on purpose--like exercising, meditating, checking in with friends and family, and...oh...I dunno...writing a damn poem a day.
I have heard there is a period for which you have to do a thing for it to become a habit. The internet seems to agree on 21 days. My longest streak on this blog was way back when I first started it: 13 days in March 2013.
I guess I thought having it be public would help keep me accountable. Like having a gym buddy or an AA sponsor. Of course, the internet doesn't notice when one halfassed poet skips a day (or several weeks). But if anyone out there has an idea about how I could do more of what I want to do, leaving comments is still free of charge.
Haiku for the Things I Wish I Did
If I have to think
Then it's already too late.
Let it be like breath.
An autobiographical short poem a day (except when I don't).
Don't break the chain, man
ReplyDeleteGet a calendar. Mark "X."
Soon? You've a habit!
Planes of pressed wood pulp?
ReplyDeletePlastic cylinder of ink?
How last century.
If you don't like pens
ReplyDeleteSet an alarm, one each day
On your fancy phone!
xo Ruth