Mornings at home have a typical routine. I’ve neatly stacked a series of habits that let me wake up slowly and sort myself out before the day gets loud. Coffee first. Feed the cats. Rotate the laundry while I practice Spanish. Meditate, read and journal. The predictability is comforting; the small, ordinary tasks remind me to slow down and stay present.

Wednesday morning’s routine didn’t look different than Tuesday’s. The same habits, stacked in the same order. And yet…