I have developed many habits over my lifetime, some noble, some questionable, and a few that probably deserve their own apology letter. Some have fallen by the wayside, some are still hanging on like loyal little life rafts, and others will surely show up in the future—because apparently, I am still under construction even at his stage of life.

Somewhere along the way, I was told that a habit is made by repetition. The magic number, according to whoever was handing out wisdom that day, was twenty-one days. Do something for twenty-one days and—poof—you have a habit. I’m not sure life works quite that neatly, but I do remember hearing it during physical therapy, back when I was working hard to rebuild my life after my accident. At the time, I was willing to take any bit of hope I could get, even if it came with a countdown.

If I had to choose one habit that has truly improved my life, it would be my habit of devotion and meditation. For the past few years, I have built a wake-up-and-move-into-the-day routine. It is not fancy. There are no candles arranged like a spa commercial, no dramatic sunrise soundtrack, and no version of me floating peacefully above the floor. It is simply me, my devotional book, a quiet moment, and the choice to begin the day on purpose.

This habit wakes up my body, my soul, and my mind. It gives me a positive place to start before the world gets loud, before the phone starts chirping, before responsibilities line up at the door like they paid admission. It lets me take a breath and remember who I want to be before the day starts making suggestions.

Life is not easy. At this stage, it feels heavier and more unrecognizable than it used to. There are days when I look around and think, “Well, this was not exactly in the brochure.” But giving myself time in the morning to set my mood and move gently into the day has, without question, helped me become more of the person I wish to be.

My devotion and meditation time gives me a thought to focus on—and not just any thought, but a good one. That matters. The chaos of life and the heaviness of the world can change the way we look at things. It can make us rush, worry, snap, spiral, or forget to notice the small blessings tucked into ordinary moments. My morning habit helps me slow down enough to see them.

Because of this practice, I move through my day with more intention. I enjoy the small things more. I remember that I am blessed, even when life is messy. I am less stressed, more centered, and better able to take on whatever life throws at me—with a little more grace and, hopefully, a better outcome.

So yes, habits matter. Some habits improve your schedule. Some improve your health. Some keep you from losing your keys every twelve minutes, which is also a noble contribution to society. But the best habits, I think, are the ones that help us return to ourselves. Mine begins in the quiet of the morning, with devotion, meditation, and the simple decision to start the day from a place of peace instead of panic.