“If you aren't in over your head, how do you know how tall you are?”-TS Eliot
Throughout my day, during my commute or while I sit in front of a computer monitor at work, I fantasize about all the things I would like to do to my house and yard and garden. I think about installing a patio and awning, about planting a small grove of fruit trees, about remodeling the bathroom. These imaginings sustain and inspire me.
I spend countless hours on http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ working myself into a home improvement frenzy. Every evening I come up with a to-do list for the next day to be completed before I leave for my second shift job. And in the morning I bound out of bed with the best of intentions. Thinking "this morning I will 1.restain the deck, 2. weed all the flower beds, 3. clean out the garage..." and the list goes on, trying to cram 12 hours of work into 3 hours of free time.
My intentions are always the best, but I have to realize, to accept, that these lists will never end. There will always be more to do, more to improve, more to want. I have to discipline myself to take comfort in the small victories: today I repainted an end table or today I thinned the lettuce or even, today I enjoyed myself. And to realize that, some days, good enough is just that.
Dang it! Your stuff is so well written....you need more people to see this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! At this point I am doing this mostly just to keep myself inspired and motivated.
DeleteMiss Jessica,
ReplyDeleteI'm a brand new fan and am thoroughly enjoying reading your blogs. They are full of humor, introspection, and insight. Please, please KEEP GOING!!
First, can I say that I complelely identify with having a gazillion plans at 7am that become wistful remembrances by 5pm. And then by 10pm, if I'm not careful, I'm beating myself up for getting nothing (or not enough) accomplished. Good to hear you are keeping it all in perspective.
Secondly, your kitchen is oh so charming and completely unique. Excellent decision to allow it to continue to service you and your family and friends for at least a little while longer. And you are so correct about things going out and coming back into style. If I'd kept all that old hippie crap...well, I'd never have to go clothes shopping EVER again.
One final note about the crew: Victor looks dangerous. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Dear Mysterious Reader,
DeleteThank you for the encouragement and enthusiasm. It's good to know I am not alone in over extending myself, but perhaps that is the experience of most people in this day and age. Thanks for reading and don't worry about Victor, he looks creepy but I can assure you he is quite harmless. ;-)
-Jess