Some of the habits I’ve kept aren’t even conscious—they just are. I clean the same way I was taught when I was a kid. I keep a box of random things that we’ll never use, because Dad had a box labeled “Things We’ll Never Use.” At work, I live by the motto WWDD: “What would Dad do?”—because his calm, common-sense approach to life still guides me. These little routines may seem insignificant, but they bring me a sense of comfort. They root me in memories of when home was simple and the world felt smaller. I may have updated a few things here and there, but most of the way I live now is shaped by the way I grew up. And I’m okay with that.
Having an anchor doesn’t mean you’re stuck in the past—it means you know where your center is. When life feels chaotic or uncertain, I find myself leaning into those familiar ways of doing things, the rhythms and routines that feel like home. An anchor might be a comforting routine, such as cleaning the kitchen before bed every night, or a belief that helps you stand firm when life gets messy, like Dad’s: “Life is too short to fight.” It helps you stay steady when everything else feels like it’s shifting. For me, those little traditions, habits, and hand-me-downs are more than sentimental; they’re a way of holding on to who I am, even as the world changes around me.
I may not live an exciting or modern life by some people’s standards, but it’s a life that feels rooted. And in a world that often feels like it’s drifting, I take comfort in being anchored. My habits, my home, and the stories behind the things I keep, they’re all part of something larger than just me. They remind me that I didn’t get here alone. I carry pieces of the people who came before me, Mom’s snarkiness, Grandma’s dishes, Dad’s jokes… and yes, even his box of “Things We’ll Never Use.” And in doing so, I hope I’m creating something steady enough for my children to hold onto as well.
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