I had a vision on New Year’s Eve of the year ahead — of me vanquishing my nemeses a week at a time: the side yard strewn with junk, the unhung pictures, the cluttered bathroom shelf….Who would I become if I faced these annoying chores instead of pretending to ignore them?
What if I conquered all (okay, 52) of those tasks I have been avoiding? Here is my theory:
If I take on one of these bothersome tasks each week, I will develop the habit of facing unwanted things rather than avoiding them. It could work. If I practice on the small things, it has got to help with the big things.
You are welcome to join me if you have some niggling chore(s) you have been loathe to face.
Week #1:
The Picture Ornament from 2022 — bought from Michael’s for last year’s Christmas. I ran out of time in 2022 (and 2023), so the picture of me and my boy never made it into the ornament. The empty ornament has been sitting for two years without being displayed.
I hear what you are thinking, “Throw it out! It’s CLUTTER!” And you would be right. But I’m not facing my clutter problem (yet*), and I intended to make that ornament last year, so it is technically something that I have been avoiding. So it’s going on the list. It’s low hanging fruit, but I am starting small.
I have to write down the steps or I will start looking for the ornament and end up ordering a new space heater on Amazon because it’s cold in my room:
Find ornament (somewhere on my desk).
Find picture off phone (WARNING: Allegedly a three-minute task, this will take hours scrolling down memory lane without preplanned, laser-focused intention).
Print picture to Walgreens.
Pick it up.
Cut out picture, put in frame, write Merry Christmas note & double-stick tape it to the back.
Perfect.
Yes, that is my tree. Yes, it is still Christmas at my house. And yes, taking down the tree will go on the list soon. Baby steps, people.
Up next week…
Unpack from last year’s Thanksgiving travel trip. Fun!
