Thursday, May 29, 2025

Thursday Thoughts...

“I love ritual and repetition. Without them I would be a balloon with a slow leak”. 

 Anne Lamott

I am back to Anne Lamott - her mind is just so interesting. Her life too, and the many ways in which she has learned things is great. I listened to a conversation with her by Monica Lewinsky on Monica's new podcast this week and there was much to mull over.

But here I find that yet again we are simpatico. I love ritual and repetition and I would add routine.

From the way she describes what happens when she doesn't have them in her life, it seems to me that she finds they keep her upright; they keep her buoyant; they keep her moving.  That without them she literally runs out of puff and doesn't know which direction to head in, or how to move along.

Aimless perhaps? 

I think ritual and reparations are also very comforting and calming; the patterns and the rhythms offer days and lives on repeat keep like  heartbeat in the background. A steady and reliable pulsing. Without them I reckon I would go from sinus rhythm to an arrhythmia of sorts.

A slow leaking balloon made me pause and think about all of the things that implied and suggested; and I love how she made me do that with her simple words.


Me with ritual and routine!

2 comments:

  1. Much to think about in that short sentence. I too find ritual and repetition important, an anchor in a way... my balloon can drift about and discover new views but being tethered in that way, through those things keeps me from getting lost. Another beautiful post Fiona, thank you.

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    1. How can I be so late replying??? I love your analogy of the tethered ballon. It really works that way - with the oversight and drifting along a bit; but not escaping or deflating...

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