Habitual Criminal

That well-known Russian wag and comedian Fyodor Dostoyevsky commented, 'it seems, in fact, as though the second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has accumulated in the first half'. I'm afraid to say that in my case he's correct; I am definitely a creature of habit. This is particularly annoying because I studied to be a secret agent in my early years by reading all the James Bond books from cover to cover several times. One of the basic rules mentioned is ' don't form habits' because it makes it easier for evil megalomaniacs bent on world domination to kill you. Fortunately, I haven't come to their attention yet.  

I've formed habits over the years because I'm fundamentally lazy. I can't be bothered to waste time looking for keys or scraps of paper with telephone numbers on so I make sure everything is safely stashed in its proper place. I have carried my wallet in the same back pocket for the last 30 years; not the same trousers though I might add. I have filing systems so I can lay my hands on any bill or receipt at the drop of a hat. I tend to buy the same things and eat the same things based on dietary decisions made years ago, all to avoid making tricky choices.

I'm fortunate that I haven't picked up any bad habits, well, none I can be arrested for. I don't follow little girls home from school or steal the neighbour's lingerie off her line. On the other hand, I do have a propensity to tap my hands and feet to an imaginary rhythm which can be fantastically annoying to those non-tappers amongst us. As far as shocking and bizarre habits go it's definitely in the minor league.

Not for me those sudden acts of impetuousness or spontaneity; those spur of the moment decisions or devil may care leaps into the unknown. Not only do I look before I leap, I make sure I have a ladder so I can climb back up again if it all goes pear shaped. Does this make me a boring person? Yes,it probably does.