Old So What

  Ok, the house gets dirty, dusty, whatever. It needs care, I get it. BUT frankly some people get completely lost in their housework! It’s alright to come up for air and do something creative once in a while.   You know something fulfilling, such as, writing a book, writing a poem, writing a letter! The housework will survive us all.   But wouldn’t you like to be survived by a song, a thought, a memory that you wrote down that only you can create. And not a spotless house, which will be dirty, dusty, whatever again, before you finish reading this. I rest my case.

  Neatness has its place for giving us peace and a sense of order. But you cannot create anything out of neatness. Creativity requires a certain amount of chaos, so the situation can be reordered, rearranged, or reinvented producing/generating something new.

  There are so very many things that I don’t feel like doing, at least not right now, maybe ever. For example: the dishes and the laundry, which I’m sure are part rabbit in that there is never an end, they keep multiplying, they keep existing. Then there is going to the supermarket, which at today’s prices amounts to an act of courage. I never leave there with everything I want or even need, because all of that just costs too much.   So, I put off going until the cat is down to a few cans of food and I am down to no bread for toast. I don’t put off talking to my cousin or a friend on the phone, or eating a pepperoni pizza, or taking a well-deserved nap. Why? Because those things are enjoyable. If only I could make everything seem enjoyable. But I don’t see how that’s possible without the use of major drugs, which I don’t have and would not use if I did! So, I will just continue to procrastinate (put off intentionally and habitually something that should be done), until...

 Here are a few of the words of advice I tell my elderly cousin often. Take your time . When you are rushing to finish a task and your mind is drifting, you are more likely to loose your balance or drop something. Focus on one thing at a time. If you are easily distracted or trying to do too much at once, try to focus on the just one thing at a time. This will lead to better outcomes and less trouble. Tell yourself "good job!" If you don't have someone around to compliment you, then you have to compliment yourself. A simple reminder that you can do something regardless of how simple, will boost your confidence and independence. 

  Sometimes you can just plunge right in and do something. You haven’t done it before, but you do have the general idea.   So go ahead. Give it a try! This happened to me just the other day. It was no big deal. But you know I did feel proud of myself afterwards.

  When you’re feeling overwhelmed and don’t want to do something BUT something must be done now—start by doing a little; then take a break; and then do some more; then another break; then do some more work on the chore until you’re all done. Taking a break gives you a workable goal and a reward all in one.