It is Day 21 of the UBC and I have made it so far. And you know what they say about habits – takes three weeks to form one.. so here is hoping this has become one now – blogging 🙂 But on the other side, there is the internet, and I decided to go look into this theory, this saying ‘It takes 21 days to form a new habit’. Woe me, here is what I found – per newer studies, the time needed to form a new habit is much longer! Around 66 days to say the least. Some of my resources for this statement can be found here at BrainPickings and Huffington Post.(though both reference the same set of studies)
For 6WS at Show My Face
Drizzle everyday hopefully keeps drought away (!)
Here is hoping the constant drizzle between a few downpours manages to make more of California drought-free day by day!
For Saturday Snapshot and Pink Saturday,
Two different looks, one dessert
Deal Me In Short Story Reading Challenge – 3 of 52. I drew the 9 of Clubs this week and that corresponds to ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson. My list is here. Here are my thoughts after I read the story. 
first published (not a beloved one though). This is my second (or maybe more)
time reading this story. It draws you quietly, envelops you in the comfort of
everyday life, of traditions and events, of life in a place that could be
anywhere, and just as you settle in with your cup of tea, you are thrown out of
a fast moving vehicle with no safety belts or air bags to protect you.. well, not
literally, but that is the jolt you feel when you read this to the end.
blind faith and mob mentality, and also shows that tradition should not be
always taken at face value. The ability to say so much with so less, is evident
in this short story. Every character,
every word plays a role here and in its own way, shows the power of an
individual or, in this case, the lack of it.
Based on how readers react to the story, I totally get the
phrase – ‘to each his own’ (or even, perversely, in the case of this story, ‘beauty
is in the eye of the beholder’). This
story deserves to be read (even in the era of the dystopian novel) for brilliant storytelling and being true to what was.
Rating: A
I read this story in a book I own – The Story and its Writer – An Introduction to Short Fiction (Compact Fourth Edition) by Ann Charters. (the link points to the ninth edition of the book). This book by itself is brilliant also, for the collection of stories it has, and the accompanying commentaries by the writer. Shirley Jackson’s commentary regarding this story was an insightful read as well..
Note: While there are so many current events around the world showing the ugly face of mob mentality, I always have the hope that there is always the other side of the coin – the one where society can work together towards a better future (and events like today’s Women’s March on Washington, among others, do prove it).
Yes, 66 days seems about right, but it only takes about three days of NOT doing something to completely lose the habit!
Gorgeous colors, and delicious looking treats. Thanks for sharing…and here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT POST
I am sure it takes different time for different people to have a habit set in. I do write everyday. That does mean that I post to my blogs daily.
Yummy looking photos, love the vibrant colors! Only 10 days left, you've formed a new habit!
Oh, yum! Those look delicious…and so pretty!
I find it helps when trying to form a new habit to link it to an existing one. For instance, when I wanted to start building muscle with weight training each day, I decided to do my 15 minutes of weight training just after my 10-min of yoga in the morning and before I make breakfast – that way, it has just become a part of my normal morning routine because I sandwiched it between existing habits.
Good luck!
Sue
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