Is it really all about letting chaos in though? I mean, I get what you're saying about routines getting stale, but for me having some structure is what keeps me from feeling totally lost. I've tried the whole "loosen up" thing before and it just made me anxious. Less planning meant I forgot stuff I cared about and ended up frustrated more than anything. Maybe it's a personality thing? Some people need those guardrails to actually enjoy the ride instead of worrying about crashing.

Man that's rough but honestly I'm glad you figured it out. I did something similar with my weight belt for years. Thought I had it dialed then realized I was carrying way too much lead because I never adjusted for saltwater vs freshwater dives. Felt like an idiot when a dive master showed me the difference on a trip to the quarry.

Do stores really do that kind of tracking on customers? I have friends in retail who told me the "problem customer" notes are mostly for things like return fraud or shoplifting, not for being difficult about a price. Is this cashier's story pretty common or more like an urban legend? I'd be curious to know if other people have had managers actually admit to doing that.