Monday, February 18, 2008

Same Thing, Different Day

Maybe it's just the winter doldrums, but lately I feel like I'm in a big old rut. A wise man once said, "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun*." Yeah. That pretty much sums up my life right now.

It's just the reality of this motherhood thing we do. The butt you just wiped? Will need to be wiped again in a few minutes. The runny noses keep on running. The laundry is never, ever, fully finished (unless you do your laundry in the nude so that literally every piece of clothing you own can be clean all at once). You shop for groceries and put them all away; then you get everything back out to cook a meal. And then you get to clean up after the meal, just so everyone can get hungry again and ask for another meal. As soon as the house is dusted, vacuumed, and shined to perfection... someone with sticky fingers or drippy hands or muddy feet will come by and erase that lovely gleam.

So what works to lift you up when the circle of life starts weighing you down? I decided to try to focus on what IS new around here. Like counting sheep, I figured that even if I only came up with one or two items it might pacify me.

With my new health concern in mind, I've shopped at a new grocery store and planned several new-to-us meals. Even though I used to be a great eater who loved healthy choices and didn't overdo it on meats, over the last six years I've slowly started to eat more like my husband. He's an extremely picky eater who fully expects to see red meat at every meal and will only consume three known vegetables (lettuce, corn, and green beans). I've gotten out of the habit of preparing dishes that would be "just for me," but I don't want to eat myself into an early grave. So, we've been eating fish and even vegetarian dinners! It may not be earth-shattering, but it's new.

After months of bellyaching about our finances, I'm seriously looking into two new business opportunities. I tend to be overly cautious. I want every scrap of available information before I make a decision. However, I'm learning that when it comes to business, you may not be able to forecast every last possibility - I may have to just jump in and see what happens. For the first time in a long time, I'm about to take a risk. I have to say, from this vantage point it's actually pretty fun. You might even say, exhilarating.

The other new development here is my son's decision to sleep for 11 straight hours last night. I have no idea when or if he'll replicate this amazing achievement, but I'm hoping for soon and often. A girl can hope!

So, is anyone else feeling stuck in the rut, down with the February blah's? I'd love to hear about something you're doing for the first time - because I'm sure that if you stop to think about it, there's something on the horizon that can make you smile. Counting sheep what's new has certainly worked for me.




*Ecclesiastes 1:9

4 comments:

Amy said...

I call it the "lather, rinse, repeat" syndrome. Yes. I am in a major Feb. rut. Hurry up, March!

Heather said...

Wow, it's even more depressing to see it written out like that...everything I do will be undone.

As for the something new...I'm going to start an etsy shop. We'll see what happens I guess. I've been having fun creating though.

And I actually got up off my butt and cleaned up some of the junk laying around in our basement. Now if only I could do that for the upstairs too. (you know, the area of the house that other people are allowed to see)

Anonymous said...

This is exactly why I stopped making my bed ten years ago. And you know, no one knows and no one cares?!

Worth the minute I don't have to spend doing something that's undone every day.

Unknown said...

Heather, okay, that's it - we're officially separated at birth or something. I'm planning to open an Etsy shop myself - how funny is that!?