I woke up craving grits and eggs. I had not thought about them for a long time, yet this morning, it was all I could think about. Medium slow heirloom grits, yellow, from South Carolina, were calling to me. With scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms with French herbs and butter, and fried vegetarian spam, it was a half-southern, half-crazy breakfast that took me back to my mother’s roots in Georgia. I remembered her indulgent breakfasts, grits were often the foundation. Today was not particularly healthy. It was good for my heart and soul.
Habits can build one up, one repeating action at a time, or nibble away at the foundation of one’s soul. I listened to life’s reminders, taking them in as my guardrails for the day and week ahead.
Habits are silent alerts, calling one to consider whether s/he needs to tighten their grip or let it go. I catch myself repeating old habits, unaware of their destructive force within me or towards others. The observations that linger include the following: “You’ve done that a few times, haven’t you – said things behind someone’s back you wouldn’t say to his face?” (Ecclesiastes 7.22). The consideration, taken with a deep breath and a pause, opens a door within me to awareness, understanding, and a decision on what I will do with what I can now see.
Replaying a memory in real time gives one a chance to say thank you. I smiled as I added butter and black pepper to my grits, thinking of my mother’s words, smile, and laughter. For an all-too-brief moment, she was with me again this morning. Her love was as warm as usual, her belief in me stronger than ever, and her gift in believing anything was possible. The best thanks I can give her is to regift what she left with me to the individuals I meet with each step.
Each moment is an opportunity to build a new habit. Embracing insights, awareness, and opportunity is the first step. Rinsing and repeating is the second. Today is my chance to build.
