Routine

At 80 I depend upon my Day Timers daily organizer, plus calendars and a weekly and daily sheet combination. Obviously these assist my memory, but more than that they allow me to get things done. This isn't new, but it is more necessary than in the past. In part I resent them as I would resent "crutches;" it would be better for me not to spend the precious time on them, but it pays off.

Many years ago on one particular ship I was on, I had the good occasion to have a mentor who had attended the University of Chicago (Philosophy) and prided himself in being organized. He encouraged me to take advantage of shipboard life to get studying done, physical fitness and diet, and to prepare myself for what I imagined might be my future. Part of this depended upon using the watch schedule to be called when you wanted to get things done (other than work, eg. the watch, as well as those).

While on this ship I read an article on the philosopher Santayana in which he extolled routine as a way to get things done. He took this to some extremes, eg. having the same thing for lunch each day so that he wouldn't have waste time on the decision making necessary to have variety there. When I speak with people today it seems that for many of them a lack of routine is essential for them to feel "free," to allow their self preoccupation a "long leash" so that their lives can be led with minimal introspection.

My hope is that people will find their balances with all of this, a "middle way" of sorts. Spontaneity has its' place, undoubtedly, "living in the present" much to offer. At 80 my time for this may return in another incarnation (?).