Why It Matters

Some folks claim that it takes 28 days to make or break a habit, and while I have no idea whether that’s true it sure seems right. Whether it’s push-ups or writing or any of the many goofy things I’ve chosen to do with my time, after about a month I’ve settled into a routine. In other words, I’ve developed a habit.

I don’t have any habits that are overtly bad for my health; well, maybe one. I like diners. I like reading in diners, writing in diners, sitting and listening to the noise in diners. I have a pretty bad diner habit, and with that comes diner food–not exactly the healthiest thing that one can eat.

But the COVID-19 scare has kept me out of my favorite diners for over a month now. I’ve had to develop new routines. When this thing is all over will I go back to my old diner ways or stick with my new habits? That’s a thought that must be terrifying business owners all over the world: Will people come back to my restaurant, my movie theater, my store, my gym, my nail salon?

My suspicion is that we’re experiencing the leading edge of a much longer financial transformation, that some brick and mortar businesses will never recover from the coronavirus and others will take on new shapes. Just last night I saw a Burger King commercial offering free delivery. If that turns out to be a profitable business model, they and other fast food franchises we’ll keep trotting greasy burgers to our doors long after COVID-19 withers and dies. That’s just one example, and it’s probably not a very good one.

Anyway, habit songs:

“You’ve Got A Habit Of Leaving,” David Bowie.

“Bad Habit,” The Dresden Dolls.

“Filthy Habits,” Frank Zappa.

“Nasty Habits,” Oingo Boingo.

“Bad Habit,” The Offspring.

“Habit,” Pearl Jam.

“Bad Habit,” Voodoo Johnson.

“Change of Habit,” Elvis Presley.

There you have it: Eight songs about those hard habits to break. What did I miss? I’m listening.