The cats have been given food, which they look at and then look at me like I am serving them gruel, and walk away insulted. The dogs have been out, barked a bit to add to the neighborhood alarm clock system, and now Toby is alternately searching the perimeter for anything to ingest and stretching up to the shelf to access the cat food, as apparently his dining standards are much lower than that of Seamus and Theo. Hapi is repeatedly saying "Wanna come out?" like one of the neurotic caged birds in the first Rio movie. All before my first cup of coffee. Good morning, world!
This is a typical morning routine. Every day, 365 days a year, give or take an accidental hospital stay or heaven forbid a fun night away from home. I can feed the cats and dogs, and prep the birds, in automatic mode now. I find a certain level of comfort in routine tasks. It provides structure and purpose to an otherwise scatterbrained mind. Since tracking my physical steps I've learned that doing this logs about 1,000 steps to start the day, which isn't so shabby, either. I've always thought routines are important as when we are busy in automatic ways with practical matters, our creative brain can get to work on things that we can't see...yet. Keep the practical part of the mind busy and the creative part can have some time to grow and wake up, too. Since keeping this blog, I look forward to my first cup of coffee and a few minutes in the morning to think about art, creativity, and living. This is the first blog I've been able to maintain for an extended period of time, thanks to having a morning routine that works.
Here's an article that mentions several artists' use of routines to structure their day. Apparently I am not the only one! And another, longer, article with insights about routines and establishing patterns for creative time. How did well known artists structure their day? I like the part about "just showing up." If you have a routine, showing up for a particular task is not a decision. It just "is." That is what is great about parrots -- even loud, silly, nippy ones -- they can't be denied (unless one wants a visit from the police for disturbing the peace.) Sleeping through their morning demands isn't an option because it is just how we spend our time together. Every day. Part of being a "bird mama." Once all of the morning stuff is done, switching gears to creative or work time is easier to do. Even if there is a macaw yelling "LOVE BUG" in the background.
What will you make today? And when?