Recently at a family dinner, we had a discussion on rituals. Specifically, morning rituals – how you start the day.

I came to realize that I have a lot of morning rituals, routines, or, habits whatever term you choose to use.

My typical morning:

Open my eyes – wake up (as we hopefully all do).

Do the alphabet with my feet. A few years back I badly sprained both my ankles and the physiotherapist recommended that I move my feet and ankles left and right doing each letter of the alphabet. Although my ankles have recovered, I continue to do this exercise.

Listen to the daily Jay (Calm app) – a 7-minute chat on wisdom, which is always thoughtful and interesting.

Then, I get out of bed, head to the kitchen, and fill my kettle with water to boil. While doing that I determine my morning dance song. I have some go-to songs but every morning it is different. While my kettle is boiling I do my dance and sing along. It gets me primed for the day.

Some go to songs – Headful of Doubt, Right Now, Grease, The house that Heaven built, Celebrity Skin, Romeo’s tune, and Mr. Blue Sky.

Grind my coffee beans, add them to the coffee filter, and slowly pour the hot water over the cone to brew the perfect cup of dark roast coffee.

As mentioned in an earlier blog – there is a new addition to my morning ritual; drinking a cup of lemon water before coffee. It is a shower for the inside of your body (a comment that I read on another blog). I have not yet completely embraced this new habit but I'm getting there.

Take my cup of coffee to my deck outside (no matter the weather, as my deck is covered) and journal for 15-20 minutes. What I am grateful for, my intentions for the day, and anything else I feel like writing about.

I then stretch. Text my girlfriend. Check my calendar for the day. Do my morning preparation for the day.

So much has been written about how you start your day – Here are some good starts:

Mel Robbins - High Five https://www.high5habit.com/

Tony Robbins – Priming - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXbUFgqjMdk

Hal Elrod – Miracle Morning https://miraclemorning.com/

🎵 Songs of the Week 🎵
Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra
Grease – Frankie Valli
Celebrity Skin – Hole
Romeo’s Tune – Steve Forbert
Right Now – Van Halen
Headful of Doubt – Avett Brothers
The House That Heaven Built – Japanoids