The comfort of no choice

[susandennis]

When I was really young I read a novel about a nun. I grew up in the very protestant South so nuns were a mystery to me and I was fascinated by this story. My take away was that nuns had a life where there were no hard decisions. No way to go wrong. You wore the same thing every day - same as everyone else. You did the same things every day - same as everyone else. You didn't have to think, you only had to do. This seemed a nice life alternative to my young mind.

I actually knew then and, of course, know now, that I'd last about 3 solid minutes in that environment. Wearing black every day?

But, now I'm taking that same kind of comfort from today's situation. In retirement, I chose what I want and need to do every day so I'm constantly faced with decisions. Should I go do this? Or that? I really should go get this done. Or that.

No more. I wake up in the mornings and know with certainty that I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to see anyone. I don't even have to get out of bed or get dressed or do anything. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not the next day.

Down the road, it will likely become it's own burden. But, now, it's actually pretty comforting. And I'm actually enjoying the freedom of it. Weird. But, true.

Today will be TV and knitting and maybe laundry. I did notice that the sewing room needed some tidying so maybe that. It's very possible that I'll walk on the treadmill.

The Smalls will nap and then move to another nap place and resume then eat. Biggie will watch for birds and troll around looking for stuff he shouldn't eat and then remember the banana and then nap. Same as yesterday.

We're cool. We're fine.

Comments

[bill-schubert.livejournal.com]

Yup... I'm at the mercy of Zoe regarding exercise. She's pretty tough in the morning but otherwise I only have to decide what is the background to my life... the life is pretty set

[letmesaythis.livejournal.com]

You've been retired for a while and my unsolicited opinion is that you'll do just fine even in the future as long as you are able to do the things you enjoy. When you say that down the road it will likely become its own burden I think that you mean boredom with the mundane, but you always seek and find new ways to entertain and fulfill yourself. I don't think that will change..do you? You have a very realistic and balanced perspective. You recognize and are grateful for all the good you have and have a healthy disdain for the inconveniences of life.

[susandennis]

Thank you and you are right. The down the road I was talking about was the quarantine... I'm enjoying it now but will I in a month? Probably :)

[chocolate-frapp.livejournal.com]

Wearing black is about the only thing about nuns I CAN relate to, haha.

[sparky955.livejournal.com]

Here in The Sparkyverse, never thought that being widowed, orphaned and pretty much friendless in the physical/right here sense would turn out to be essential life skills. 🙂 Like you, I’m good. My life has a sameness that I find comforting.

Oh, I saw this in one of my Facebook groups today & thought you might like it:

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

Yes, I found that on Day One I was actually euphoric. Some of it was because I am a hermit by nature, but it was also such a relief to be able to stop worrying about whether I could do this or that or whether it was time to start self-isolating. The government told me to do it and I did it, and now I feel safe. There's no doubt that we don't too well with too much choice - people who have six items in their brand sell a lot more than people who have 90 so clearly people don't enjoy too many options.