Nothing New - Wonder Twin Powers, Activate!

Saturday mornings in the mid-70s, my brother and I were allowed to watch cartoons. One that stands out in my memory is The Wonder Twins, a superhero brother and sister duo who would touch fists to activate their powers. The girl would transform into an animal, while the boy would take on a form of water. They’d be going about their day when an alert would come - a call to action. Then they'd say, “Wonder Twin powers, activate!” and magically, they’d transform and save the day.

That’s how I’ve come to view ritual in my own life: it’s my personal call to action that can save my day by making it more meaningful. Ritual is how I bring both attention, focus on what I’m doing in the moment, and intention, a conscious choice about how I want to act or what outcome I hope to create, to the ordinary stuff of life.

Take laundry, for example.

I can grab the clothes from the dryer, fold them, and put them away. It’s automatic and efficient. Habit.

Or, I can grab the clothes while thinking about how fortunate I am to have them, fold them with gratitude for the dexterity in my hands, and put them away while appreciating the people who wear them and the dresser and closet that hold them. That’s ritual—bringing attention to each step and intention through small moments of gratitude.

My morning rituals, in particular, are essential for setting the tone for my day. After I turn off my alarm, I begin by thanking God for the gift of a new day and asking for the wisdom to do God’s will. Then I move into about 10 minutes of yoga, noticing how my body feels and being kind to the parts that need extra care. (This has shifted a bit with my knee injury, and I’m always exploring new ways to nurture the connection between body, mind, and spirit.)

Next, I use the Calm app for a 10–15-minute guided meditation, or I meditate on my own. I  observe what comes up and may have to adjust some things in my day accordingly. Only then do I start my coffee, eat breakfast, and catch up on updates - usually a mix of Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American and Nice News to help balance the perspective.

After that, I’m ready to dive into my Life Coaching work and prepare for my shift at school.

And as each part of any routine comes up throughout the day, it offers a chance to choose how much attention and intention I bring. And the more I lean into presence during everyday moments, the less I feel like I’m just grinding through the day. The more I notice, the more grateful I become for what’s already here.

Rituals. Don’t leave home without them.

What do you do to build ritual into your life?