Good one Sean,
After several sentences I was reminded of Julia Camerons book: The Artists Way. A must read for just the things you covered.
It's always caught my attention that some of us older folks come to fall into either getting hopelessly stuck in daily drudgery. Which brings with it the long list of sad, melancholy and wondering why we're even here... Or the shining ones who for whatever reasoning in their growing years have discovered the delicious art of daily accepting change, the spice of life! And as you say consistency. This can bring such fruit.