Monday, March 18, 2019

Creature of Habit #SOL19


I am participating in the Two Writing Teachers Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge.  

Are you a creature of habit?

Yesterday I wrote about a morning routine. For the most part, I think I am a spontaneous person. I'm not a planner, and I typically fly by the seat of my pants. I never really considered myself to be a creature of habit.

Fellow slicer and Teach Write friend, Christie Wyman, made a comment about my use of Hershey's syrup. I began thinking How long have I been drinking that? Are there other long-standing habits or routines that I have? Do I even remember when they began?



I honestly don't remember when my breakfast became a routine, but it has always been Jiff peanut butter and Hershey's syrup. When I was in college (the first time) I lived in a sorority house, and we had a fabulous cook. French toast, pancakes, eggs, and bacon quickly pushed toast out of the line-up. So, I believe it was when I began living out on my own. That would be 33 years ago. 


Friday night is pizza night at our house. It is the night I look forward to because I know I don't have to plan or cook a meal. When other teachers talk about eating pizza during the week, it just feels wrong! I think we ate pizza on most Fridays when I was a kid, but I do know my husband and I ate it together since we began dating. That would also be 33 years ago.







I sleep holding a pillow. I cannot sleep with just one. I need one for my head and one for my arms. I have to go back pretty far on this on. I think it was when I was high school, but I know I slept with one in college 37 years ago.




I am an Oil of Olay woman. I have never been one to try different beauty products. I remember packing that little pink jar on my first day of college, and I have used it now for 37 years.



On my nightstand stands a jar of Vicks VapoRub. I put this on my lips every single night before I go to bed. When I travel, it is one of the first items in the bag. I believe this habit started in high school 37 years ago, but honestly I don't remember a time when I have not used it.



Creature of habit? Well...maybe I should reconsider that title!

12 comments:

  1. This is hilarious, Leigh Anne. I am most definitely a creature of habit too--and I share your Oil of Olay habit. I love the structure here, the use of bold font, and the short paragraphs with photograph.

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  2. It's funny, isn't it, the routines we get into? Your habits sound delicious and comforting, right in line with the buzz of self-care we hear so much about these days.

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  3. Thanks for sharing! It's so funny to realize the little habits we have that we do so often. For me, I always do laundry on Sundays. I feel so weird if I do it on a Saturday. I also only like to use Chapstick brand in the blue tube. I don't use other chapsticks. I'm going to be thinking about my routines all day!

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  4. Absolutely love this idea and the structure - reflective and fun and gives us a glimpse into your life via your habits! I have never heard of using Vicks Vapo rub on your lips! I have to think about my long standing habits because, like you, I tend to think of myself as a fly by the seat of pants kinda person! Hmmmm.... Thanks for sharing!

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  5. I think we so often do something the same way that we on't think of it as being a habit just something we do.

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  6. This was an entertaining and honest account of your habits. Habits are there to make our life easier. Your breakfast intrigues me.

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  7. I think we are all to some degree creatures of habit. Your slice got me thinking. I love that you bolded the number of years you've been doing each of these things.

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  8. My mom puts Vicks on EVERYTHING! She's like the "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" people with Windex. But she doesn't put it on her lips. That's a new one to me! We used to get basically slathered in it every time we were sick as kids. You are so fortunate all these products have stuck around. My go-to breakfast was discontinued in August, and I've been adrift ever since!

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  9. Oh my gosh, as I was reading this I started wondering about how many habits I have that I haven't given much thought to. Maybe I don't even want to get started listing them! Vicks on your lips? Is it for chapped lips? My mom used to smear it under our noses, but not on our lips. Hmmmm.

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  10. Loved this! One of my little habits is I have to line up my bills in my wallet all facing the same way and in ascending order - 1s, 5s, 10s, 20s (when I have them). I attribute this habit to working in the cash office at Montgomery Ward when I was in high school. And that's the way I was taught to do it.

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  11. I am now thinking about all of my habits. Great slice, Leigh Anne!

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  12. Aren't we all creatures of habit? I think I have some O.C.D. habits as I go to sleep w/my retainer within arms reach and a tube of vaseline. I don't want to have chapped lips at night. It's a life threatening emergency. Plus I have a pair of earplugs on standby just in cases there are noises I can't tolerate and could potentially wake me up. . .

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