For No Apparent Reason

Doing the Routine Routinely

I have written before about some of my quirky habits (Norm’s Rules, for example).

https://thestormbynorm.substack.com/p/norms-rules

And, I usually have specific reasons for those quirky habits. Perhaps those reasons only make sense to me, but that’s okay. I’m the only person to whom they need to make sense, anyway.

However, during this current period of intense self-reflection, I’ve realized I do some things for no apparent reason. For example, on January 1 of every year, the first thing I do after I get out of bed (besides the requisite trip to the bathroom), is listen to my favorite album of all time, Who’s Next, by The Who. I have been doing this for decades. Every year, like clockwork, I start the year by listening to Who’s Next.

And, I do not simply have it playing in the background while I check my email or do something else. I put my headphones on and actively listen to it by myself, often in the dark. It seems like a good way to start a new year. Like I said, I’ve been doing this for decades.

But, why? I listen to those songs throughout the year, so it is not as if I only listen to them on New Year’s Day. I cannot remember why I started doing it. At this point, after so many years, it would feel weird to not start the new year by listening to Roger and Pete and John and Keith when they were at their absolute peak, collectively and musically speaking.

I am not the least bit superstitious. I do not believe listening to Who’s Next on New Year’s morning will bring me good luck for the rest of the year. I do not believe harm will come my way if I do not continue with this ritual. I guess I do it because I want to. Which often is the only reason needed.

This is all I need to start a new year.

I am one of those people who is either cold, or afraid of being cold. I was generously gifted with a light and silky blanket that I like using on my legs while napping or watching TV. It has Bugs Bunny on it, saying, “Ehhhhh, what’s up, Doc?” (What else would he be saying?)

It should come as no surprise that when I put that blanket over my legs, it has to be a certain way. I want “Ehhhhh, what’s up, Doc?” to be right side up, not upside down. (This does sound kind of OCD-ish, no?)

I mean, I know it’s just a blanket and it makes no possible difference to anyone else on this big, beautiful Earth whether the words are upside down or not. I know this. But, I will flip that blanket around until it’s arranged correctly. Why does this matter to me? Ehhhh, for no apparent reason?

The one on the left? Correct. The one on the right? Obviously, horribly wrong.

Here’s another thing that falls into the “No Apparent Reason” category. In the interest of sharing the workload around the house, I sometimes do the laundry. And when I do, I always start with the pants. Always. Why? Heck if I know.

The rest of the clothes can be done in any order. The first load has to be pants, though. (It seems even more odd when I see it written down in a sentence.)

I don’t think of this as an OCD thing. I believe I could wash the clothes in any order without having an anxiety attack. I do not feel as if I need to do the laundry in a certain order. I just like doing the pants first. For no apparent reason.

The first load is in the staging area, waiting for the go-ahead from Mission Control.

Maybe it has something to do with rituals. I do like to follow my routines. Whether it’s my daily walks, or getting ready for bed, or how I go about my day, I seem to do the routine routinely.

I know I do not like change just for the sake of change. That is not to say, however, that I am incapable of change. If I figure out, or am shown a different way to do something, and it is better than the way I have been doing it, then I am open to changing.

But, I am not comfortable, for example, with rearranging the furniture or moving pictures on the wall, simply for the sake of change. In my mind, if something works, then what would be the point of changing it?

We call this “The Chicken Wing” because it features a grouping of chicken things. I like this as it is. Why change it?

I guess I do like things to stay the same. I have often thought I would have been good at a factory-type job, doing the same thing over and over and over for eight hours, then going home. And, coming back the next day and doing it again. Day after day, year after year of doing the same thing. I know that sounds like hell to some people, but I believe I would have been fine with it.

I have to admit, I guess, I find a certain comfort in the mundane. In my mind, I set up ritualistic ways of accomplishing the every day tasks associated with living. It seems to work for me.

However, I am aware that relying too much on daily rituals can squeeze out spontaneity and fantastic new experiences. Finding a balance, therefore, is important for a person such as myself.

Dream job.

It can be said I have a routine in the way I create these little essays for The Storm. By Norm. But, the essays themselves are different from week to week. So, I hope I am getting the best of both states of being - I get to keep engaging in the ritualistic behavior I enjoy so much, and my spontaneous, creative side is stimulated by writing different words every week.

I have never talked with anyone else about this, so I don’t know if this is something that everyone experiences, or if it’s just me on the slow, downward slide to losing my seemingly tenuous grip on sanity.

One last group of questions: Why am I writing about this? Why now? Should I seek professional help? Am I using this forum to work out my deep-seated psychological issues? Am I making way too much of this?

As is often the case, I have many questions, but few answers. I think I have identified the most open and honest thing I can say as to why I’ve written this particular essay:

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