When I saw this prompt, I asked my mom if she thinks I’m spontaneous or live by a routine. She laughed and said “you! routine?, do you even know what a routine is?” And that’s truly summarizes all that I’m about to say.
Growing up in a house full of boys, there was nothing like routine. My parents tried several times to make follow this “time table” they made for us. We knew we had to take breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon, supper in the evening. We also knew all chores had to be done in the morning but then we never stuck to any of it.
I, for instance, could just up at anytime and do something I was supposed to do hours ago. My brothers could also just get up and do something way earlier than the actual time they had to do. Funny part is, at the end of the day, everything would still be done as they expect them to be. And anytime I remember my childhood, these are the memories that make me laugh.
Years after I grew up, I found myself in places where I had to stick to routines. And I really struggled to get by each and everyday because I had no idea how to do that.
Eventually, I learned how to make things work out for me without having to strictly stick by certain patterns.
So, if you ask me about having a routine and being spontaneous, according to what I’ve experienced, I would say having a routine comes with peace. There’s this kind of peace that accompanies routines. You know you have to do something at this time so you do it and tick it off your box.
Spontaneity on the other hand comes with the fun part of life and a little chaos. But the fun part is what makes it more rewarding I believe. Thinking about how spontaneous my life has been, I would like to believe life should be lived spontaneously most times with a little routine here and there.
I don’t know for others but I easily get bored with routines. Wake up, do that and do this. Oh come on. I want to wake up one day and just say “whatever. I want to have breakfast at the safari” and then be on my way to eat while watching lions. Or just pass by the beach during my lunch period from work with no prior plans, just to surf the waves. Don’t you think that is more thrilling? And that’s the fun part of life.
Maybe routines can be for the other parts of life; Professional and academic? Just Maybe. Any other part of life should be lived spontaneously, I believe. After all, we only have one life to live, isn’t it?
