Breaking Out of the Routine
There’s a funny thing about life, and getting older that I’ve realized more so in the last week than ever…and that is that we tend to overlook things and places that are right under our noses.
As we get older, and we all do–life tends to simply pass us by. Many of us get into a routine with work and home and kids that becomes just that, routine.
In the last few weeks, I’ve been shown that if we simply slow down and open ourselves to new opportunities, people and places that our lives can be enriched in the simplest ways.
As many of you know I grew up here in Monticello. I attended all of my school years in public school and know what it’s like to have to drive about an hour to get anywhere with “retail civilization.”
When I was younger the place to shop was the Macon Mall. My mama always took us there to do school shopping or Christmas shopping and in my mind it was the utopia of malls.
That was over 10 years ago, and anyone who has traveled down Eisenhower Parkway in Macon has seen that the utopia of malls is half the size it was in its glory days and less populated than ever.
In my teenage and adult life up until about two years ago all revolved around the Covington and Conyers areas as it was common to go more north in direction. It was here that I had a large circle of friends, held numerous service industry jobs and considered those towns “home.”
In the last two years I have become employed at B.J.’s Billiards in downtown Macon.
I thought that I knew a little about Macon until I started working there; since which I have learned to love people there and places as much as I continue to love Conyers and Covington.
I’ve been learning my way around the parts of Macon, what the best ways to get around the city are (other than I-16 or I-75) and all of its little quirks and amazing places nestled in the big city.
Recently I have been taken aback as to a hidden treasure or two that Macon has to offer. I met a friend that has shown me places that I have commonly driven by but never actually noticed. I’ve been to an orchard, through Warner Robins on a tour, to a jazz club that I would’ve never known existed, and to another park that is nestled neatly below I-75.
It’s amazing the places that you discover when you take time to trust, and agree to get outside a routine that you find comfortable. I’ll be keeping you updated on these places in this column. Read and get ready, you may want to try out some of these yourself.