Simple Joys And Routines That Hold My Life Together || LOH Contest #270

I believe it is a known fact that life is full of never ending worries. One moment we are happy, and the next, we are carrying a burden too heavy for our shoulders. In this constant cycle, we must learn to free ourselves from continuous worrying, especially when we realize that it does not change the situation. We must also learn to live freely, embrace a positive spirit, and intentionally do the things that bring joy to our hearts.

One of those little joys can be found in the way I start my mornings. As someone who attended boarding school years ago, I have learned to stick to routines, and since then, structure has been the only way I know how to move through my days. On days when I fail to follow my routine, I find myself struggling to find a balance and my thoughts just lay scattered. That is why I love to give my mornings the right start.

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The first thing I do each time I wake up to a new day is say a prayer and read short words of affirmation aloud to myself. Doing this sends a powerful message to my mind and helps me stay positive throughout the day. It also reminds me of my capabilities and all that is possible if I simply try to take control of my mornings. After that, I settle into some good music. Some mornings begin with my favourite album from Don Williams, while on other days, I listen to indigenous music from my country as a reminder of my roots. One thing remains constant - my morning never truly begins until I have listened to something soothing enough to calm my mind and prepare me for the day.

Another habit I start my mornings with is opening my notepad app to review my personal to-do list. As early as 5:00 a.m., I would be up on my bed, adjusting this list to suit the day ahead of me. I do this intentionally because I believe the outcome of my day depends on how well I plan and, more importantly, how well I start. This is why I save social media for later and focus my morning on other productive activities such as organizing my emails or sending out new ones. I love mornings filled with quiet productivity, and starting this way always sets the tone for me.

Finally, I start and continue my mornings by refreshing my body with a glass of healthy liquid. Not tea, not coffee, not yoghurt(which are all great, by the way), but water. I started this habitual practice two years ago and I can boldly say that it has won and strengthened both my heart and my immune system. Drinking a glass of water on an empty stomach every morning helps me regain the fluids I lost during my night's sleep and it improves my metabolism, giving me more energy for the day ahead. So while water is considered a boring liquid for many, it remains my first daily refreshment.

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As for the things that make me laugh, they are often simple. People sometimes assume I am hard to please, but the truth is that my parents raised me to find joy in small moments. Watching my niece bask in the happiness of having new gifts makes me laugh. Hearing my dad relay stories or events with dramatic tones amuses me so much. Waking up to sweet messages from my friends who think of me wraps my heart with joy. Reading jokes on Twitter(X) makes my cheeks hurt from laughing. I mean, tweeps over there got jokes for days!

But nothing compares to the conversations I have with the people I love. Those conversations heal me in ways words cannot fully describe. The updates we share about our lives so far, the good news, the jokes, the emotional safety I feel sharing my worries, and the laughter in between all make life feel lighter. It's truly a blessing and I hope that for the rest of my life, these little joys continue to make me laugh, satisfy my heart, and give me reasons to choose life again and again.

This post is a response to question 1 & 2 of this week's Ladies Of Hive contest prompt which you can find here.

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