Congratulate Yourself

“Congratulate yourself if you have done something strange, extravagant,  and broken the monotony.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

 Monotony can affect different people in a variety of ways. Some individuals spend a good deal of time trying to escape the monotonous routines (so they can do what’s their passion to do that is outside their comfort zone). There are those individuals that are willing to take their own lives to break the monotony of issues they can’t break free from. On the other end of the scale some people have so much change in their life all the time that a bit monotonous normalcy would be a welcome thing in their life.

When I was writing this post, I realized what one person made consider monotony another individual may view as security. Let me use me and my wife (Bobbi) as an example of this. Because of COVID-19, Bobbi works from home (as many of you do). Working for the company she’s employed with for a long times would be a boring, monotonous venture in life for me. For my wife, this job provides a regular income to pay our bills and allow us to live the lifestyle we do. Her job also gives her the ability to gain a sense of personal satisfaction as she advances in her career.  None of this would be possible without the security that the monotony of her job offers.

There are those times as a retired man that the routines of my life can become monotonous as I wonder, “Is this all here is to my life for the rest of my life.” Some of my routines include things like household chores (laundry, dishes, vacuuming), making sure my wife is taken care of (food-wise and emotionally), making sure her birds are fed, running chores outside the house, watching TV, writing, and napping. It’s not a rough schedule, but my monotony to my wife is security. Bobbi knows the security that these things will be taken care of while she’s at work doing what must be done on her job. Without me here to provide that security, I believe it would be difficult to succeed at her work.

Sometimes in life you need to try something different just to break up the monotony. That could include things like changing your appearance, doing volunteer work, or getting a pet. The possibilities are endless.  Just remember with every adjustment you make in your life to ward off monotony someone may be affected by your action. Trying to always do the right thing can have a positive effect on others, but it can also get rather monotonous, too.

In the above situation Galatians 6:9 tells you what you need to do, and what the result will be from that action: So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Are you ready for an overabundance of blessings from your heavenly Father?