Ten Things I've Developed as Strange Habits
Every night I have a cup of hot herbal tea after dinner. I am convinced this helps with my digestion. This one here is my favorite.
When a server brings us extra napkins or packaged crackers at a restaurant, and we don't use them during our meal, I put them in my purse and bring them home. This is because I know they'll be thrown away (ex-waitress here) and I hate the waste. My family laughs at me for this habit, but hey, we never run out of crackers or napkins.
Not once have I ever tasted red velvet cake or cookies or anything red velvet-inspired. I see it and instantly think blood and do I want to eat all that dye? and the answer to the latter is always no . . . but now I warn other people not to eat it for the same reason.
In my purse is a little coin purse with salt and pepper packs, wrapped toothpicks and Truvia packets (see, Jill, you're not the only one.) I also carry a pair of scissors, emergency honey sticks (in case my blood sugar crashes) and those packaged hand wipes they give you when you have ribs at a restaurant. I keep adding to the stash now because I hate needing something and not having it on me. P.S., no one in the family laughs at my little purse stash because they've all needed something from it.
After many, many years of fussing over my hair, dyeing it, trying to find a hairdresser who wouldn't scalp me every time, etc., I have stopped dyeing it and winnowed down my maintenance to the bare bones. I brush it twice a day, once in the morning and once after my shower. I never blow dry it, curl it, straighten it, put hair styling products in it or do anything but use the absolute cheapest shampoo and conditioner (usually Suave on sale at Target) to wash it. It's thin and white, but in very good condition now, and currently hangs to the middle of my back. My guy cuts the back once a year to just below my shoulders; I trim my bangs every other month. I get compliments on it all the time, too.
As I'm in charge of the food buying around here, and there are no children I have to feed nutritionally, I now boycott the veggies I've never liked. Beets, lima beans, okra, and any form of squash are not allowed in my house. I break my rule once a year to make a fresh pumpkin pie for my daughter at Thanksgiving, but I don't touch the pie myself.
When people leave my house or drive away from me I refuse to watch them go, in case I never see them again. This is because two of my family members died shortly after I watched them leave. I stick to this habit religiously now. I know it's irrational, and probably silly, but most superstitions are.
People think I'm cheap, and I suppose I am, but my thrifty habits have always been about avoiding debt. I've gotten super cheap now (and I really don't have to be, but staying out of debt makes me very happy.) These days I either pay cash for everything I want, or do without. I have one credit card I keep for emergencies that always has a high credit limit but a zero balance. We're planning to buy a new car this year, but I put my foot down and said we're waiting until we can pay cash for it. P.S. my guy is the same way, which is one of the main reasons we still get along so well after 35 years.
Empty thread spools never go in the garbage here anymore. I reuse them as winders for thin lace and embroidery thread.
Another superstition in my older years: before I go to sleep I try to remember to silently give thanks to the universe for my life, and apologize for all the things I've done wrong. This is in case I don't wake up. I don't really worry about dying in my sleep; I just want to cover all the bases.
Have you developed any strange habits in your later years? Let me know in comments.
Comments
My hair has always been long and I refuse to get an 'old lady cut' as it used to be called here. I do have it colored still because the gray isn't pretty yet so I have all of it done rather than just a bit, but I guess that's not really a habit.
You really made me think with this post though. I don't know that I have any habits I didn't have when I was younger. It will be on my mind all day today though ;)
My hair is terrible. Thin and in deficit right now. Like you, I haven't gone to a professional in years. I got tired of them asking me if I knew my hair was very thin. Oh, my gosh, no! I never knew!