January is almost done, thank goodness. My decluttering is kind of stalled, though, because I’ve done all the easy stuff, and all that’s left are big things like tacking my craft room or the catch all closet. But, it’s hard to get motivated. Frankly, I’m kind of overwhelmed just thinking about it.
Caitlin, my niece and guru for all things new age-y, says to me the other day, “Aunt Ida, some animals hyphenate for the winter. Maybe we should take our cue from them, and slow down a little. You know, enjoy it.”
We were having lunch down to the Busy Bee, and I was tucking into the special of the day: baked macaroni and cheese with sausage. To die for! “But there’s so much I should be doing, Caitlin! It’s stressing me out.”
“I hear you. But maybe what’s stressing you out is not all the things on your “to do” list, but the pressure you’re putting on yourself to get things done. Maybe it’s not about the stuff, so much as your thinking.”
Took me a minute to process that one through my mac-and-cheese addled brain.
“So,” I says, “let me get this straight. Me worrying about the fact that I should be getting more accomplished is what’s getting me down, not the things I want to accomplish?”
“I think so.”
“Well,” I reason, “at least if I’m worrying, I feel like I’m doing something.”
“Au contraire, Aunt Ida. I think worrying is the opposite of doing something.”
“I can see that. Hard to stop the cycle of abuse, though.”
“Listen, I have a great affirmation I got from someone out there, I can’t remember who. Anyway, it really works for me. You want to hear it?”
Caitlin has an affirmation for everything, God bless her, so I’m kinda used to this sort of woo-woo talk. I figure, what the heck. “Sure,” I says.
“’Time is my friend, and I’m getting the perfect amount done today.’”
“Oh, Caitlin. You can’t be serious.”
“I am. It beats worrying all the time. Come on. Say it with me.”
I quickly look around the Busy Bee, to make sure nobody I know is within earshot.
“OK”, I says, ‘Time is…’ How does it go?”
“’Time is my friend. I’m getting the perfect amount done today.’”
“I don’t know if I’m gonna be able to remember that. How ‘bout this: ‘It’s amazing how I always have enough time to get done what actually needs to get done.’”
“Even better!” she says. “Together: ‘It’s amazing how I always have enough time to get done what actually needs to get done.’
“You know, Caitlin, I think I’m starting to feel a little better already. How’d you get to be so smart, dear?”
“I must have got it from you, Aunt Ida. How about dessert?”
God, I love that kid! To be sure, my to do list isn’t getting any shorter, but I’m not beating myself up about it. I just say my little affirmation.
Well, gotta throw some ingredients into my crockpot (We’re having beef stew tonight), and get ready for work. And that’s all I need to get done this morning.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Time is My Friend