MONDAY MADNESS
"The best laid plans of mice and men..."
That's the beginning of a line in Robert Burn's poem, "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough," and often describes my weekend plans.
Not this past weekend.
In fact, the weekend was more productive than most and considerably more satisfying. I had a list. Not a long list, only four items. For once, I didn't go mad and overdo, which leads to disappointment in myself. No, this one was simple.
A load of laundry and several loads of dishes on Friday (we've been saving up *wink*), followed by the replacement of a light switch on Saturday morning. Yes, I'm a handy little devil. Or would be if I had done it right. Unfortunately, I didn't, but neither did I cause a flash fire. That's a win. And, after a little more research, I discovered what I needed to do, so it now reappears on my list of chores-for-later-in-the-week. No need to push it. The light hasn't worked for some time. A few more days won't matter. Live and learn, right? The last of the errant dishes---how do they manage to meander into other rooms?---were done, and I moved on to finish some small updates on my website. Not a lot of work, but everything on the list crossed off. Well, except for that light switch, but that's covered.
There was also the editing of the first three chapters of what will (I hope) be the first of a series of books that I wrote in the spring a year ago. The tentative series name is The Divine Misfits. Maybe. We'll see how that goes. So what if there are still eleven chapters to go? It's begun and, with luck, will be finished by Sunday. That's the plan.
This feeling of accomplishment is rare, and I think I've discovered the secret. Of course, most everyone but me knows that secret. I'm a little slow on the uptake. And what is it? Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! Obviously my goal setting has weak spots. But I'm working on that. When it comes to writing, it isn't difficult. When it comes to normal, everyday life, yeah, there are problems.
Yesterday (Sunday) was good, especially because it was our writers group meeting. A week later than usual, thanks to Mother's Day, so even more welcome. There's nothing like getting together with like-minded and wonderful friends. I could do this all the time! And with a handful of us vowing to meet for critiquing once a week, it's all good. I'm pumped. But I'm also trying not to get over-pumped. That leads to downfall. So it's take one small thing at a time and enjoy.
I'm learning new things. I'm reading blogs, books, articles and whatever appears as a gift from the Universe to see life in a different way. I like to call myself a realist, but over the years, I've become more pessimistic. If something good happened (and it does), it was easier to say it was a fluke. Now I'm trying to expect the good stuff. Why not? Shouldn't we choose the good over the bad? I mean, if we have a choice---which we do---let's choose not only good, but great! I like that. I really do. (Doing some weird Sally Field channeling here.)
Yes, there are a million things that need to be done to get the things in my life in line to the way I want it. But they can't all be done in a day, a weekend, or even a week. They take time. And time is often our enemy. Instead, let's make it our friend. Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! Yes, it's definitely worth repeating. And now that I know the secret...
In the end, what I got from all this was that I could have the best of both worlds: Getting things done AND enjoying the weekend. What could be better than that? There's still laundry to be done, winter clothes to wash, dry, fold, pack away until the weather turns cold again. Small closets and not enough drawer space means everything can't always be at hand. That's okay. We understand it. It's become a tradition to start mentioning it as the weather begins to change, and finally saying, "Let's get it done today." There's still the office that could use a bulldozer, but it, too, will be done in small doses and chunks. Why not? It isn't going anywhere on its own. Lots of sort and toss and store...and finding new places to store. Just how many file folders need to be on hand at all times?
In a few days, school will be out, and this summer may be unlike the past nine summers, filled with grandkids bickering and running crazy, trips to the library and trying to find enough food to please and fill up five growing youngsters. I need the break. I deserve the break. (See that positive there?) I want to enjoy this time. It's MY TURN. (Please pass that on to my offspring.)
Monday Madness will remain as it's called, only because it's MONDAY, but there'll be some small changes. Change is good. Change is healthy. Change is fun! One day at a time. One step at a time. And, hey, I might actually become that productive person I dream of being?
How was your weekend? Did you have (TAKE!) the opportunity to make it a good one? Or would you like to climb out of the rut? Let's take the road together and see where it takes us, pitfalls and all, because there will always be those...unless we live on a faraway island where no one can find us.
Check back next week and see if this new positive course continues to work. Yes, there will be a failure here and there, but focusing on the successes will take care of those, right? And next week I'll share some links I've discovered that are helping me along my way. Maybe you'll find something helpful, too.!
"The best laid plans of mice and men..."
That's the beginning of a line in Robert Burn's poem, "To a Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest with the Plough," and often describes my weekend plans.
Not this past weekend.
In fact, the weekend was more productive than most and considerably more satisfying. I had a list. Not a long list, only four items. For once, I didn't go mad and overdo, which leads to disappointment in myself. No, this one was simple.
A load of laundry and several loads of dishes on Friday (we've been saving up *wink*), followed by the replacement of a light switch on Saturday morning. Yes, I'm a handy little devil. Or would be if I had done it right. Unfortunately, I didn't, but neither did I cause a flash fire. That's a win. And, after a little more research, I discovered what I needed to do, so it now reappears on my list of chores-for-later-in-the-week. No need to push it. The light hasn't worked for some time. A few more days won't matter. Live and learn, right? The last of the errant dishes---how do they manage to meander into other rooms?---were done, and I moved on to finish some small updates on my website. Not a lot of work, but everything on the list crossed off. Well, except for that light switch, but that's covered.
There was also the editing of the first three chapters of what will (I hope) be the first of a series of books that I wrote in the spring a year ago. The tentative series name is The Divine Misfits. Maybe. We'll see how that goes. So what if there are still eleven chapters to go? It's begun and, with luck, will be finished by Sunday. That's the plan.
This feeling of accomplishment is rare, and I think I've discovered the secret. Of course, most everyone but me knows that secret. I'm a little slow on the uptake. And what is it? Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! Obviously my goal setting has weak spots. But I'm working on that. When it comes to writing, it isn't difficult. When it comes to normal, everyday life, yeah, there are problems.
Yesterday (Sunday) was good, especially because it was our writers group meeting. A week later than usual, thanks to Mother's Day, so even more welcome. There's nothing like getting together with like-minded and wonderful friends. I could do this all the time! And with a handful of us vowing to meet for critiquing once a week, it's all good. I'm pumped. But I'm also trying not to get over-pumped. That leads to downfall. So it's take one small thing at a time and enjoy.
I'm learning new things. I'm reading blogs, books, articles and whatever appears as a gift from the Universe to see life in a different way. I like to call myself a realist, but over the years, I've become more pessimistic. If something good happened (and it does), it was easier to say it was a fluke. Now I'm trying to expect the good stuff. Why not? Shouldn't we choose the good over the bad? I mean, if we have a choice---which we do---let's choose not only good, but great! I like that. I really do. (Doing some weird Sally Field channeling here.)
Yes, there are a million things that need to be done to get the things in my life in line to the way I want it. But they can't all be done in a day, a weekend, or even a week. They take time. And time is often our enemy. Instead, let's make it our friend. Don't overload yourself with trying to do too much! Yes, it's definitely worth repeating. And now that I know the secret...
In the end, what I got from all this was that I could have the best of both worlds: Getting things done AND enjoying the weekend. What could be better than that? There's still laundry to be done, winter clothes to wash, dry, fold, pack away until the weather turns cold again. Small closets and not enough drawer space means everything can't always be at hand. That's okay. We understand it. It's become a tradition to start mentioning it as the weather begins to change, and finally saying, "Let's get it done today." There's still the office that could use a bulldozer, but it, too, will be done in small doses and chunks. Why not? It isn't going anywhere on its own. Lots of sort and toss and store...and finding new places to store. Just how many file folders need to be on hand at all times?
In a few days, school will be out, and this summer may be unlike the past nine summers, filled with grandkids bickering and running crazy, trips to the library and trying to find enough food to please and fill up five growing youngsters. I need the break. I deserve the break. (See that positive there?) I want to enjoy this time. It's MY TURN. (Please pass that on to my offspring.)
Monday Madness will remain as it's called, only because it's MONDAY, but there'll be some small changes. Change is good. Change is healthy. Change is fun! One day at a time. One step at a time. And, hey, I might actually become that productive person I dream of being?
How was your weekend? Did you have (TAKE!) the opportunity to make it a good one? Or would you like to climb out of the rut? Let's take the road together and see where it takes us, pitfalls and all, because there will always be those...unless we live on a faraway island where no one can find us.
Check back next week and see if this new positive course continues to work. Yes, there will be a failure here and there, but focusing on the successes will take care of those, right? And next week I'll share some links I've discovered that are helping me along my way. Maybe you'll find something helpful, too.!
"The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." ~ Confucius
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