Hurray for Ruts!

Oatmeal is only for breakfast, right? That's what I thought, too, until hunger forced me to do the unthinkable.

I’m loath to admit it, I am definitely a creature of habit.  Even though I’d classify myself as “adventurous” and “a risk-taker,” the truth is, most days follow an embarrassingly similar pattern. It looks something like this:

• Wake up and shower
  
• Practice yoga for 15 minutes
  
• Drink water-and-lemon juice, followed by 2-3 cups of coffee
  
• Check email, create daily to-do list
  
• Walk the dog/run errands
  
• Write for 1-2 hours, then make lunch
  
• Write for 3-4 hours, then take the dog for another walk
  
• Dinner
  
• Work until 10 or 11pm, then dog walk
  
• Read a book in bed for 30 minutes, then sleep

Variables might include an art-opening outing, a dinner party, or some other social event, but generally, every day looks pretty identical to the one before it. The only times I really mix it up is when I’m traveling or when I’m forced to in some way or another. And as uncomfortable as those little changes might feel at first, when it’s all said and done, I’m usually grateful, because it’s only by pushing out of our comfort zones that we’re able to broaden our horizons and grow.

Traveling is one of the most exciting and rewarding ways to put ourselves outside of our normal situations and find opportunities for growth, but you don’t even have to leave the house to nudge yourself out of your usual routine. This little lesson was reinforced the other day when I stuck my nose in the kitchen cabinet where the brown rice and other grains are usually stored, only to find the cupboards bare. Um, how am I supposed to have my usual rice-and-veggie bowl for lunch when one key ingredient is missing?

Necessity—as the saying goes—is the mother of invention, and hunger compelled me to do the unthinkable: Substitute oatmeal for the rice. Ack! Oatmeal is only for breakfast, right? You eat it with maple syrup and cinnamon, not hot sauce and salty seasonings! But I didn’t let that niggling “You’re doing it wrong!” voice stand in the way of experimentation. The results were surprisingly delicious. Steamed veggies atop perfectly cooked whole oats, seasoned with toasted sesame oil and a splash of soy sauce. Guess what? I’m now in an it’s-oatmeal-for-lunch rut, but that’s a good thing. The lesson learned here is that it’s OK to experiment in the kitchen, break with tradition, and try new things, even if it feels weird or uncomfortable at first. 

What have you done lately that’s pushed you out of your comfort zone? I’m all ears!