all the small things

I left for work this morning at 6:15am. My husband Mark still sleeping, the house in order and remarkably clean (if I do say so myself). As I leave I write a sweet little note on the fridge saying that I love him and I wish for him to have an amazing day.

He leaves for work at 9:00am. I arrive back at our humble abode at about 10:45. I am SO looking forward to a relaxing break before I head back to work.

Well.....

The bed was "made"- if you don't count the lump of clothes that are still under the covers.
There are dried egg whites on the outside of the fridge. Exactly how will remain a mystery.
There are dishes in the sink although the dishwasher is completely empty.
I don't even want to talk about the slip covers on the couch and love seat.
Laundry left on the chair.
The remote for the X BOX left exactly where I would trip over it, fall and give myself a concussion due to the fact that I cracked my head on the coffee table.
And there's no stinkin' note telling me how much he loves me and would be lost without me.

As I start to clean I see...

The flowers he buys me on the 18th of each month (for the last 5 years) to remember the date we were married.
The bed was made.
He had a healthy breakfast.
He emptied the dishwasher.
The chicken that is defrosting for the dinner that will be ready for me when I get home.
He does his own laundry.
He had the time to play before he went off to work.

I don't need no stinkin' note.


Today- even if for just one day- I ask you stop seeing the little things and start focusing on all the small things.

Be well

all that's missing....

Ever have one of those days when all that's missing is the toilet paper on the bottom of your shoe?

Mine happened the first week of January. Right after I made all those resolutions.

(I didn't actually make resolutions but I did write down what I want for myself, friends and family in the year 2010. Rather than the forceful: I WILL stop having popcorn for dinner, I wrote something like: I see myself maintaining a balanced diet that includes popcorn as a treat not a food group).

The first 3 that I wrote for myself included:

I see myself walking with confidence
No longer am I motivated by what people think
I am maintaining a consistent exercise / running routine

Monday, January 4th

• I feel fantastic.

Tuesday, January 5th.

• wake up late
• run out the door with a coffee but without breakfast
• very ungracefully get out of the car, spilling the contents of my purse on to the seat
• walk across the street (this is the only thing that was easy that day)
• trip UP the stairs outside of the Landmark Towers during the busiest part of the day
• try to prevent myself from falling on my face, twist and re-injure my back, which prevents me from running for another 2 weeks
• spend the rest of the day feeling sorry for myself and thinking that it was foolish of me to assume that things would change

Did I mention I chipped my new coffee cup during my spectacular fall?

So, after a short while of feeling pitiful, I wonder: Is there a lesson here?

Nothing changes overnight. I will be faced with obstacles and situations that will seem insurmountable. When this happens, I have two options:

A) Stare at these overwhelming situations and think, here we go again, nothing ever changes and then give up.

OR

B) Recognize this as an opportunity to get up, dust off and walk confidently even after a fall. Realize that people care more about if you are o.k. rather than making fun of the fact that you fell in the first place. Come to the conclusion that running will still be there in two weeks and I've always wanted to try yoga. And....a chipped coffee cup is an excellent reason to get yourself a new coffee cup.

I choose B.