Habits

I have been thinking about habits today.  I looked it up in a dictionary and found out it was the Word of the Year.  I did not even know there was a word of the year.  Was not my word of the year but I guess a number of people voted for it.
The word habit has a really negative connotation. “He has a habit,” tends to tell me that actions are borne not from choice but from something controlling. So often some negative behaviour is attributed to a bad habit.  Yet it seems to me we can have good habits too.  Some things are done just as routine.  It is all I know.
It is hard to form good habits.  I have heard it takes 30 days to form a good habit.  I have also heard 60 days, but I prefer to go with 30.   So often it seems initial enthusiasm is relaced with frustration.  I can be all keen.  It may be all systems go.  Between me and my goal can be a straight line.  In my head it all works perfectly.  Thing is though, often the experience is messier. 
Still, to me getting there via a zig zag pattern is a good outcome.  It is not a case of the end justifying the means, but as long I get there without anyone being hurt to get there, I am happy.
What I find frustrating though is when others do not share my enthusiasm.  I may be endeavouring to form a good habit.  It is totally worth it.  I see someone else who qould benefit from what is right for me.  I want them to embrace it but often they seem to resent me indicating it would do them good too.
The thing to me is, just because something is right for me at this time, does not automatically mean it is right for everyone at the same time.  There are some things good for everyone, but it is not always the right time for everyone.  Changes are there will be a right time, but it is not necessarily at the same time it is right for me.
There are many habits formed in youth that stand us in good stead.  It is not safe to assume though, that everyone has profited from the same thing.  That can be a habit that is formed later.
Merril habitually feeds birds.  I would find that hard to do.  I habitually write.  That would drive Merril nuts.  I am so much of the view that no one is good at everything but everyone working together is good at stuff.  Our good habits and strengths combined.
I will always be grateful to my older brother for spending time with me forming good cricket habits.  We had a ball in a sock tied to the cloths line.  I spent ages forming good habits playing the right shot.  When I was in grade six, I had the chance to trial for the school team.  I played a couple of shots and the coach said he had not seen shots like that from anyone.  I ended up opener.  We had a stone wall.  We would throw a golf ball against it and it could bounce in any direction.  The object was to catch it.  I ended up wicket keeper.  It was not that I was naturally talented.  I had just spent a lot of time forming good habits. 
For all the bad publicity bad habits get, good habits are good.