If Nothing Else

I like to get up early, around 5am. And most mornings I rise from bed, stumble into the living room, and immediately commence a calm procession of habits that, in aggregate, prime my brain and body for the day ahead.

I do a little workout, usually around 15–20 minutes of body weight exercises and stretching.

I do some writing, generally some self-reflection and thoughts about the previous day or two; maybe something more structured if any ideas naturally bubble to the surface.

And after two cups of black coffee, I have a serving (or two) of oatmeal (with walnuts, cinnamon, almond milk, a pinch of salt, and a dollop of maple syrup), paired with nonfat Greek yogurt.

These routines are simple, but each task is usually enjoyable unto itself. And even when it’s not, when its performance is a strain for whatever reason, the minor sense of victory I feel afterward allows me to think, well, it’s early and I’ve already done something today. If nothing else, I can feel good about that minor achievement.