TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 - STREAKS

 TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 - STREAKS

I don’t know if this is a “me” thing - or a lot of people do this - to continue long streaks in games and activities.

Last week, I reached 1000 days in a row for doing a German language lesson on Duolingo.  So, every day for almost three years, I’ve done at least one lesson (and, most frequently, multiple lessons).  Sure, my German language skills have improved.  Duolingo had options for reading comprehension, listening, and oral ability.  I think I could carry on a conversation in German in Germany if I had to.  

I’m at a 51-day streak on my Bible reading app (and - doh - the last day I missed happened to be a Sunday!!!).  They also keep track and I’m at 177 weeks (or over three years of over 1 lesson a week).

I have a 68-day streak on the Crossword puzzle online.  I have streaks in a version of Wordle,  in Hex Flow Free, and in Flow Free games.  I have kind of a streak in writing a daily blog (I think I’ve missed three days in the year 2022).  

Does it really matter?  Who cares that I have a 1000-day streak in Duolingo?  Who cares that I have these other streaks?  If I die next week, will somebody someplace say “Hmm - Karen White didn’t do her German lesson today?  Hmm - Karen White didn’t read the Bible today? Hmm - Karen White must have died or is sick.

(The last time I broke my streak was in October 2019 when I was hospitalized in the mental hospital for four days without my cell phone).

I know I am not as diligent in other personal areas.  Like most seniors, I take some medications (high blood pressure, antidepressant, and hormones.  It seems like at least once a week I go to bed without taking my night medications, or in the morning I’m heading out to something and I skip my morning medications.

I also skip brushing my teeth at least once a week.  

Who cares?  

Some professionals might have a multiple-game hitting streak in baseball or a streak of starting in football games.  I think I had a streak of no-sick-days for several years.  

Who cares?

I make my bed almost every morning.  Who cares?

I’ve gone way over 27,000 days without shooting anybody!!  I’ve also gone way over 27,000 days without eating beetle larva.  Who cares?

Yes, there is diligence in keeping streaks.  But, do I need to be fanatic?  

I’ve walked at least a mile every day this year.  (Not sure a big deal).  But, I’ve walked over 100,000 steps each month this year (basically 50 miles per month - and generally a lot more.  My daily average is over three miles a day for the last year.  Who cares?

I guess I must care - otherwise, why would I do it?

For some of these activities, it has become a habit.  And, I must think the habit is good.  I think learning a language (in my case German) is good - so I keep doing it.  I think it must stimulate my brain cells.

*****

Maybe I need to be more dedicated to some of those streaks like brushing my teeth.  (I do have a streak of three days in a row in the last year that I have flossed my teeth - definitely not a habit).

*****

I do have a long streak of saying and believing that LOVE WINS.  Maybe that is the best streak of all.

I can only love God as much as the person I love the least.

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

What does God expect of me?  To love justice, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with Him.

Karen

July 26, 2022