I was lost...

-
Wow!!! I hadn’t posted since November.  Nevertheless, all it takes is a pretty good discussion to get my writing underway. 

So, the other day Jamie and I were sitting at the table and heard a strange noise.  Jamie went to look and found nothing.  We assumed it must have been something outside.  Later that evening, I went into the closet to change my clothes and found that the door wouldn’t open all the way.  Peeping my head through the opening, I realized that one of my shelves (holding several clothing item and shoes had collapsed…. Yes, this indeed was the noise we heard earlier.  After calling Jamie in to see what happened, he said, “Our house seems to be falling apart”.  I said, “Maybe it was time for a change, we’ve talked about changing the space for a while”.  After retrieving everything from the floor, assessing the remains, and prioritizing my needs, the closet is again usable. 

Today my brother told me that I didn’t have to wait on others to take action that I deemed necessary or important to me and he was right.  While I felt unable to clearly articulate myself, this stuck with me because it highlighted recent personal reflection.  Part of the discussion was around being about it rather than talking about it and there was not a consensus on the matter.  Now, just to clarify, repetition with no action is a frustration inherent to me.  It is not now, nor will it ever be, my place to instruct others on what should be important to them or what they should be doing.  I control my thoughts, behaviors and actions only and I decide when, what, how, where, why and with whom I engage.  This is my focus moving forward.


If you don’t see how this relates to my story, let me explain.  Jamie and I have lived in this house for several years, changing the closet was one of the first things that we noted that we wanted to change.  Yet, all we did was talk about it.  Now with no other option, we had to deal with the closet.  The result, a space that is open, clear and more manageable.  Hmmm, had we only did something when we first discussed it?  Time and effort are very precious items, wasting either can be detrimental.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Feedback: Supportive or Spiteful?

-
Wow!  In my attempt to let go of some entirely separate things this week, I stumbled upon a conversation about feedback (or honesty).  It’s an interesting situation to request feedback on one thing and receive an onslaught of unsolicited feedback about something totally separate. It’s interesting to be provided feedback of not being self-aware and unable to receive feedback, when no evidence is presented to support the accusation.   The most disappointing part of the ‘feedback’ is that it came from someone to whom I’ve shared insecurities, negative feedback, and unsolicited commentary.   To receive unsupported feedback like that from someone you trust feels spiteful and intent on purposely hurting me.   So, for me, it feels like commentary meant to either put me in my place or destroy my confidence.   Let me take a step the feedback came with a promise to point it out when it happens in the future.   I realize that I am not all-knowing, but I thought the purpose of feedback wa
More »

Why we still in these streets?

-
Just a few weeks ago, the counts of confirmed Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Shelby county was less than 10.   Today, the county is close to 700.   So, I just gotta ask, why are we still traipsing around here as if this is not a big deal?   I know, I know… I too thought it’s simply a strand of the flu that we haven’t solved for (and that may still be the case).   However, when numbers are increasing as quickly as they are right now, even I have to say, “Really guys, how long are we going to do this?”   Don’t get me wrong, I am the most social person of my marriage and understand that we all have people that we like to see and hang out with.   We’ve been asked to limit social interactions, “Shelter in place”, for two weeks and we cannot comply.   Meanwhile, I have parents at high risk, family members that have to go into a hospital to not only assist but themselves at risk, yet even I have not totally committed to “sheltering in place.”   I mean, ‘I feel fine’, ‘people just need
More »

Catching up with Day 9

-
Had some challenges but let’s see if I can catch up….   So, day 9 was ‘Pairs’.   When you think of pairs, you tend think of things meant to fit perfectly together.   But, is that always the case?   I think of Jamie and I when we first started. I wasn’t exactly his type nor was he mine, but we fit.   Perfectly in our own space, we fit.   My best friend and I are opposites in so many ways but similar in those that matter, we fit. I guess the main point is that pairs are not always simply the other side of one dimension; sometimes, they simply coexist in a favorable environment.   Pairs don’t have to be perfect, they simply have to work well together.   Quote of the Day “Great striking partnerships come in pairs.” -Nigel Spackman
More »