Posted on

OK, universe…

Share

VIEWPOINT

By RALPH HARDIN

Evening Times Editor

Sometimes I sit down in front of my computer to write this column with a clear vision of what I am going to write about. Other times, inspiration hits me when I have no clue what to opine upon. Today was the latter…

If you look to the right, you’ll see that both of today’s other columnists included the word “habit” in the titles of their columns. So, I guess the stars aligned in such a way that the universe wants me to write about habits. And who am I to argue with the universe?

Everyone has habits, good, bad or indifferent. I remember when I was a kid, my Dad would stop at Melton Holt’s Exxon every morning and get three things: a Coke, a Hostess honey bun, and a BC medicated powder.

Eventually, the nice lady behind the counter would have them waiting on him when he pulled in at 7:15 a.m. on his way to his job as a teacher and coach for the Earle School District.

The word “habit” has a bit of a negative connotation to it, probably because most of us have more bad habits than good ones. I don’t recall ever thinking, “Man, I sure have been eating too many vegetables lately…” But Chip’s

See VIEWPOINT, page A10 VIEWPOINT

From page A4

Ahoy chocolate chip cookies? Yeah, they say three cookies is a “serving size” but who are they trying to kid (besides, they used to come in a resealable bag, but now, if you don’t eat them all, they’ll go stale, so whose fault is that, I ask?).

I’ll admit to having some bad habits. I pop my knuckles and any other joint I can think of, like, constantly. Sometimes I’ll get on a roll, going jointby- joint until my wife elbows me and I remember I’m in church.

I also do this thing where I “suck my teeth” for lack of a better way to put it. I put my tongue strategically against the base of my teeth, one tooth-gap at a time and do a little “thwip” sucking thing to dislodge any bit of foodstuff that might be there (which is more often than you’d think considering I brush and floss daily… I just have teeth that are just far enough apart to invite bits of food… usually Chip’s Ahoy chocolate chip cookies).

My sleep habits aren’t the best. I stay up way too late. I just can’t get sleepy at night. Even when I have had to get up early for work, I still stayed up too late to get a good night’s sleep (hello afternoon nap). I have developed at least one good habit though: For nearly two years now, I have gone walking pretty much daily — even when it’s cold or wet outside. To motivate myself, I play this phone game “Pokemon Go” that rewards you for walking and gives me something to do while I walk. I feel better, I’ve lost weight and I do it without even thinking about it now!

LAST NEWS
Scroll Up