creating a habit

They say it takes at least 30 days to cement a habit, which is just a word meaning what you do normally without even thinking about it. I wasn't so sure that was true, because it seemed like such a long time. Then I realized what a short time it really was! It is so easy to get yourself into lazy habits- maybe habits that are not necessarily bad, but not good either. One of mine was sleeping in as late as possible (meaning as late as my 'starving' horses outside would allow) It was super easy to do, because I am more of a night person and would rather watch the sun set, and then be up for hours after that, than to get up early and see a sunrise.

However, it has become a point of self-discipline for me to wake up at 6 (or, okay, 6:30 sometimes) and start my day off well by reading a devotional, praying, and then slipping outside (usually before mom and dad, but not always) to feed those hungry horses. Why? The answer has nothing to do with liking to torture myself, though I questioned that a few times the first week! Mostly, it is to get myself in the right mindset for the day. Getting up earlier instead of curling up into the covers when light comes into the windows is actually a good thing (I found this out much to my astonishment, by the way)

So. My goal is for the rest of this year to start practicing good habits, and give them my all for at least 30 days. My understanding is that I will not have to think about them so much after that, because they will have become part of me, something I just do. At the same time, it is also a good thing to cut a bad or time-wasting habit. I think that this new one of getting up early (hey! 6 is early to ME, okay??) is going to stick. Its gotten easier over the past week. I'm not going to go so far as to promise that I'll turn into a morning person, but then again... you never know what interesting changes can occur when you begin to take charge over your habits instead of letting them take charge over you.