Streaks

Time is often measured by events; events sometimes measured as streaks. Daily runs, weekly chores, monthly bills, quarterly earnings, annual holidays. I’m a fan of leveraging streaks to help conjure up positive memories. 

I’m happy to report on a few newish, even if inconsequential, streaks to help mark time and build new sets of memories.  Four consecutive weeks of a minimum of three naps, four consecutive weeks of sustaining a new group of running pals, 24 weeks of taking at least one photo worth keeping, five months of 300+  bike miles,  exactly twelve months as a resident of AZ, nearly twelve months gainfully self-employed, 53 weeks of not setting an alarm more than twice a week. That may be the most prized. At minimum the most enjoyable!  

In the process of establishing new streaks I’ve closed the door on several old ones.  Mostly related to holidays, family events and sport. After thirteen consecutive years the decision to skip a RAGBRAI was, in the end, easier than I’d feared.  Several years ago I held a multi-year streak at both the Gate River Run and Outback Steakhouse 1/2. Once I moved those annuals slipped to semi-annual then faded into little more than great memories. I’ve found that to be the case after all of my moves over the years. 

Streaks help me more easily mark time and have a bucket of positives to recall whenever needed.  I find myself fighting giving them up, moving on at first. Somehow believing things will only be good if those streaks continue. Yet I’ve managed to thrive in spite of, or perhaps because of? sudden environmental and logistical shifts. Come to think about it without all my mini-streaks my life would be a fair amount less interesting. 

That said, given my given my somewhat unstructured existence my streaks give me a few goals to keep in sight.  I think I’ll keep-on keeping track of them!