Discombobulated does not look like a word as much as it does a bunch of letters thrown together… which I suppose could be said of any word but, you know what I mean.
I’ve been looking at it up there in the title like I would a chart at the eye doctor. D - I - S… it’s the ‘-bob-’ that really shocks me.
After some digging, I’ve discovered that ‘discombobulate’ is, in fact, a made-up word. Born of a trend in the 1800s for “creating long, high-sounding, or nonsensical "mock-intellectual" words to mock the educated class or simply for comedic effect.”
I love it.
Remember when I wrote this? ⬇️
A love letter to my routine. My commitment to ruthlessly planning every week. Boy, do I miss her.
I used to consider March the real start to a year, having had a couple months to recover from the holidays and practice being our best selves again. Not this year.
Instead, this March finds me confused and forlorn. Discombobulated.
Alan and I had a date a few nights after I returned home from London. A classy 2 drinks at dinner turned into to a late night meet up with friends, shots of fernet and a midnight sangria spritz.
To say I was hungover is to say the least. Exacerbated further by the 10 hour flight I’d just taken and the countless bottles of wine consumed in England, I felt like a blimp.
Not in an “oh my god I’m so fat” way. No. I was inflamed. My insides irritated, my cells fragile balloons, can we please calm down and ground??
Traveling proved to me how deeply grounded I am by my home, my routines and by regular exercise. But getting back into my groove has proven a challenge. My screen time has increased by three hours a day, I find myself questioning my motivation, “what am I even doing this for?” And I’ve spoken to several friends who feel exactly the same discombobulation.
It makes total sense. The whole world is in disarray. We’re witnessing and participating in a powerful shift. It feels like free fall, waiting for the cards to drop.
The good news is, Spring is less than three weeks away and the evening light has returned. I sprang all our clocks forward today and it felt great. If only it were light at 7am but that’ll come eventually too…
I’m happy to say that this tumble off the routine wagon hasn’t left me feeling guilty or ashamed, it’s left me appreciative and grateful to know how strong my structure really is.
Cutting out booze. Not forever just for a pause. When people talk about cutting out alcohol (obviously not referring to folks getting sober for serious reasons, that’s important work I applaud), I get very irritated. It feels buzzworthy, showy and meaningless to me, my eyes roll back in my head and my thumb and index finger form an ‘L’.
Even more reason to take a beat. If I’m so triggered by an act that is inarguably good for my poor, puffy cells, well… what’s up, Felton?🧐
Tracking my food. I feel exactly the same way about this habit as I do about cutting alcohol. I want to kick my own ass and unfollow myself for suggesting such a tragic and boring practice but again, this is EXACTLY WHY I’m doing it. I’m tired of feeling like shit. Forcing attention onto my body and how I treat it has already proven beneficial. I’ve deflated, I feel better, it’s been four days.
Going back to the gym. I’m a huge advocate for home workouts and have been committed to mine for years, however, I miss the focus that comes with going to the gym. I miss giant mirrors and machines with heavy weights. If you’ve been reading for any amount of time, you’ll know I love a fitness journey. As you can tell, I’m activating my 2026 version this week.
Journaling. I’ve been a morning meditator for many, many years but journaling has never been a practice that’s stuck. My hands get very uncomfortable after writing for too long (another symptom I attribute to inflammation and hope to cure this year) but for the past two months, I’ve added a few pages of writing to my morning routine and wow has it been wonderful.
Building myself an altar. This year I’ve been deeply drawn to ritual and bringing reverence to my routine. Lighting candles and adding tiny talismans to my tray has felt so nourishing. Alan says my altar looks like a little kid emptied their pockets out onto it and I can’t disagree, exactly why it’s felt so magical.
Breathwork. I have yet to delve fully into a breathwork practice but, in focusing on my physical body, it feels like a missing piece. I’m thrilled to explore it more extensively in the coming weeks.
Getting an Energy Healing. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Alicia of Superbloom is magic. She conducts remote energy healing sessions and the one I received last week has brought me the grounding and contemplation I’ve been craving. I cannot recommend this modality enough and I’m so grateful to Alicia for her sharing her gifts. On top of everything I felt afterwards, that we simply cannot do life alone, that receiving help and love from each other is essential, was the most moving of all revelations.
I’m not taking my current ‘getting back on track’ journey over seriously. I’ve learned to accept exactly where I am and go from there and that’s wisdom I’m truly grateful to have finally grown into.
More than once I’ve heard the sentiment, “the opposite is the medicine” but there is no opposite to ‘discombobulated’. It’s a made-up word for fun and isn’t that just life?
A made-up story we get to do with what we please. How silly and amusing is that?
LISTENING
The Cosmic Creators Podcast. I love Katie Clarke. Her explanation on mindset and the way she shares her views on consciousness and life are illuminating. This episode on balancing masculine and feminine energy I loved.
WATCHING
Endless amounts of YouTube, researching gym routines and meal prep. I’m healthily obsessed. Here’s a short list: FitLyss Lifestyle for workout motivation, Evette Renee for routine motivation and vlogs, Kris Hui for workout programming to bring to the gym, Love Sweat Fitness for recipe ideas.
READING
The Brothers K by David James Duncan. My dad and I leave for Montana in a week and a half to attend a writer’s workshop with the author and I’m working on strengthening my out-of-shape reading muscle by trying my damndest to finish this tome before we depart.
I’m just back from a four day stint dog sitting for two precious muppet pups and feel excited to grocery shop and get back to my regularly scheduled programming.
It’s currently 6pm and still bright outside! This is a glorious and welcome transition as well as the impending Spring Equinox which will arrive March 20th while I am soaking in the breathtaking nature of Montana.
This month is bonkers with travel, dog sitting, little trips and work starting to pick back up. I’m glad to have built a scaffolding of routine I can easily sink back into and equally as thankful to feel fully flexible, loosey-goosey if you will, with my self-imposed creative commitments.
That being said, I’ve put my Thursday recipes on pause but plan to return this week or next with some new tutorials.
Talk to you soon, I’m sending all my love. 💋
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