Leading a dogs life

Mar 3, 2006 by Naomi.

The need for rituals was impressed on me many times by a fellow board member of the American Humanist Association and an avowed vegan who developed rituals for those who wished to be in touch with their spiritualism during weekly meetings of like minded folks. It occurs to me as I look at rituals with a objectivity I haven’t attempted before, every day acts become rituals whether we like it or not.

Working folks are forced to get up at certain times each day, decide what tasks take on such importance that they must be performed immediately, and which can be put off because of time constraints when a paycheck beckons. Personal ablutions cannot be denied, although one can bypass shower with a splash of water to open eyes, bypass breakfast with a cup of coffee to jump-start adrenalin, bypass personal gratification with a kiss to the spouse, bypass parental responsibilities with a pat on children’s heads to send them off for the teacher’s discipline.

I have no such demands upon rising. I use the toilet, shower, make a heart healthy breakfast which I can enjoy at my leisure. So what rituals are, are personal habits allowed or demanded by the time and circumstances of each of us. In the case of Paula and her rituals centering on spiritual enhancement, her participants required outside guidance that saved them precious time beyond their personal commitments. That is a point well taken. Choose your confidants well.

I am always on my own and sometimes not too attentive. I allow my mechanical horse to run on preset radar. Once I trusted my vehicle to take me in the correct direction without careful consultation with the reliable machine. I should have been headed to Oregon, instead I came out of my simple enjoyment of passing scenery and realized I was on the freeway toward Seattle. Luckily the revelation came in time to rearrange my route without returning home. I took a scenic byway to Goldendale which revived my memory of long past agate hunting and bluebird viewing. A nice diversion.

But that is not always the case. People stressed with personal demands want and really need outside help. Sometimes however we too willingly grasp the nearest help that may or may not be in our best interest. Little time or thought is used to make the choices of the help offered. Try not to follow someone else’s routine that makes a Pavlov dog of you. Be independent. Be thoughtful. Be creative. No doubt you cannot control many outside circumstances but when control of the time within your grasp is possible, think on it hard and long enough to make choices that keep you comfortable within yourself.

That is my wisdom for the day, Thank you very much.

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