Describe one habit that brings you joy.
I have a habit that brings me a great deal of joy and has the potential to earn me some seriously strange looks. I am going to share it anyway.
My Quirky Little Secret
This will sound a little bizarre. The habit involves a teacup, a rubber ducky named Reginald, and a healthy dose of imagination. Every morning, after my alarm clock has rudely removed me from dreamland, I sit down with a steaming cup of tea and have a one-sided conversation with Reginald.
Before you dismiss me as utterly bonkers (a possibility I am not entirely denying), allow me to explain the method. Reginald has a perpetually cheerful grin and an optimism that nothing has ever dented. He is very good at putting things in perspective, mostly by not reacting to them.
A Teacup Therapy Session
I sip my tea and tell Reginald my thoughts, my worries and my dreams, and a weight lifts off my shoulders. He says nothing. It is oddly comforting. By the end of the cup my problems look less daunting and my spirits are noticeably higher.
You may wonder why a rubber ducky, and not a pet or a human confidant. The answer is that Reginald never judges, never interrupts and never offers unsolicited advice, which is a rarer trait than it should be. He is the perfect listener, always ready to lend an ear or, in his case, a plastic beak.
The Unforeseen Benefits
This habit has paid off in ways I did not expect. My creativity has shot up, because I brainstorm solutions to problems while chatting with Reginald. My stress levels have dropped, because I vent my frustrations to a companion who cannot repeat them to anyone. And I have a new appreciation for the simple joys of life, such as a warm cup of tea and the nonsensical musings of a rubber ducky.
Keep Your Inner Weirdness
So I encourage you to find the one peculiar habit that brings you joy, even if it earns you a few raised eyebrows along the way. Talk to your plants. Sing off-key in the shower. Dance with your cat (guilty). Let your freak flag fly.
Life is too short to be boring. Now, if you will excuse me, Reginald and I have some very important matters to discuss over a fresh pot of tea.
