pray the rosary daily

Can I just say that this is not going nearly as well as I had hoped? I was pretty strong for a month or so, but I’m just not sticking with it. Get me in the car and I am good.. but the days that I don’t go anywhere it crosses my mind and I say to myself, “oh, I’ll be sure to do it later” and then it just doesn’t happen. Kind of discouraging. =(

On my recent trip to England this was completely thrown out the window, but on my return to my home and daily habits I easily slipped back into the habit I’ve created. I’m not exactly proud to say it’s a habit, or of the actually sincerity I find when I pray the rosary daily, but the plan was to integrate praying the daily rosary into my daily life, and with the exception of my trip, I have been able to adhere to this commitment pretty well. The sincerity of my prayers and meditations vary by the day, but at least it has become a solid part of my day, so I consider that an accomplishment and getting closer to my goal.

I figure my goal will be to pray the Rosary for 30 days… that makes a habit, right? I’ve done it daily since my last entry on September 8th with the exception of two days this past week when I was really sick. Eighteen days to go to make it a habit =)

A few days ago I figured out that I could change the order of my Things and decided to put the things I wanted to happen first near the top. While many other Things on my list seem more pressing than praying the Rosary, I figured I would rather make this one happen first and move on from there. If I can make praying the Rosary a daily happening I believe I will be setting myself and my other Things up for success.

Praying the Rosary is really easy for me to do when I’m driving. Last Lent (and one a few years back) I gave up listening to all music (that wasn’t related to school). This mostly affected my driving…the first few trips were awkward and depressing, but it wasn’t long before I began looking forward to my silent drives. It’s amazing how much different quietness makes me feel. I feel more alive in the silence, more connected to what’s going on around me, especially while I’m driving. I notice the scenery more, I see the other drivers as individuals sharing life with me, I am able to quiet myself, really enjoy my stress-free drives, and arrive at my destinations is a good mood. I also realized how much time I actually do spend in the car, time that I could use in prayer, and I have since begun whipping out my Rosary! (Plus, longer car rides provide time to do all twenty decades!)

I don’t think driving is really the best time to pray as I am still paying attention to the road and other drivers, but I do try to take advantage of the quiet time I have on the road meditate as best I can on the mysteries.

I’ve also found that when something really upsets me and I can’t get my mind off of it and just keep dwelling on it it helps to pray the Rosary… I am able to take my mind off of myself for a little and focus on the life of Christ. It’s often hard to keep entirely focused, but it always, always helps. Also, when I can’t fall asleep because things are troubling me I bring it out and pray it in bed. I usually don’t make it through a the five mysteries before I have fallen asleep in prayer. Again, not the best time to meditate, but it’s effects are so soothing to me.

The part where I am struggling right now is remembering to pray the Rosary when I am NOT in the car. When I am home with my family I fall back into my old habits of forgetting about prayer. (Not that my mom didn’t teach me the importance of my faith and prayer, but that it’s easy for me to feel safe and comfortable and forget about its importance.)

I want to set a goal for myself to pray five decades on the days that I do not commute to school, either upon rising in the morning or when I go to bed so that I am alone and quite. I really want to make praying the Rosary a daily “habit.”