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blogging101, Creative Writing, Journaling, Reflections, Sandbox Writing Challenge, Self-actualization, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
What can you do to simplify your life? That was the next topic for the Sandbox Writing Challenge from Roberta Allen’s book The Playful Way to Knowing Yourself. I agree with what a couple other folks have said. On the surface this seems like a simple question to answer, but is it?
The first thing my mind goes to is for Drollery and me to have our house to ourselves. We had exactly three months of empty-nestness before our son and his wife moved in with us. They were together for three years and have now been separated for five. No attempt on either part to end the relationship. In the meantime, she moved home, he is still with us. And I am NOT doing well as the mother of a live-in, adult child. I crave the peace of being able to do what I want when I want without someone else around 70% of the time sucking all the air out of the house. I put my time in as a parent. And it’s hard when your adult children live with you to not want to treat them like children instead of adults.
If we could remedy this situation, if he could find a full-time job that paid decent money so he could get his own place, I don’t think there’d be anything else in my life that needed to be much more simplified. Oh sure, I could say things like I need a maid, a cook, a laundress, a personal shopping assistant, a chauffeur… No wait! I don’t need a chauffeur because I don’t have my own car!
THAT is the one other thing that would help to simplify my life — having my own car. We have a car and a Suburban, but the Suburban has brake issues in the snow, so if the roads are bad, Drollery can’t drive it as the brakes lock up. That means that most of the time in the winter months I’m stuck at home. It creates a problem when I need to go visit the folks on my Caregivers list for church. I end up driving all over creation to get him to work before I can do my thing.
I would love to have my own little beater just to get around town. In fact, been praying about it and sending positive thoughts out into the universe for a year now hoping it will come to pass. My daughter even sent me a dragonfly charm to hang from the review mirror. But so far, nada.
Anyway, that’s it, my big two. As far as other things in my life that need simplified, they’re all within my grasp if I’d get my keister in gear and get organized like Matt said. I have no one but myself to blame for things like not getting that grocery list done, not getting sheets changed, or the kitchen floor mopped. I’m a big enough person to admit I’m lazy! I power sort the house an hour before his lordship comes home, and it works for me.
All in all we live a very simple life. Sometimes, in fact, I think it’s too simple (or I wouldn’t be on HERE all day every day pert near!!!).
Life just keeps bumping into us doesn’t it? Get a bicycle is what I say.
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OML, Fish! I’d never make it up the hill to the highway! The mere thought of that leaves me trembling all over — from virtual peddling! LOL We don’t even have a bus that comes close to us without hiking a mile up to the main road. Drollery keeps talking about getting a Spider. Do you know what that is? Then he could ride it to work (though probably NOT in the winter). I’d be ok with that. I don’t think he could fall over on it. 😀
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Btw, did you get all your papers graded? Poor baby… {{{Badfish}}}
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I think you should give lessons on power sorting. Sounds like a perfect solution. 🙂
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Well it’s not clean by a long shot, but at least it’s straightened up! 🙂
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Long as nobody is going to do the white glove test, straightened up is good enough for me. My mother’s sister, she was about white glove tests, though I think my mother just thought she was, cause I know she wouldn’t have ever said word one to her big sister about any mess. 🙂
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And there I was thinking “simplifying” would mean to live with less 🙂
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Well you could sure interpret it that way. So what would you say?
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Believe me, you don’t want to know 🙂
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Oh, you’re so wrong! I DO want to know. I have a great respect for what you say. You have seen much in your life and are very well-read and wise.
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I think your son is very comfortable were he is right now. He has no need to move in either direction and does’t have to make decisions. There is lots of work out there, but lots of it is not in walking distance from home. So, maybe he should widen his search and look outside his perimeter, meaning in a different town or state.
As for you car, praying won’t bring you one. Maybe you can find a part time job to make your dreams (car) come true. I remember the catholic saying “God helps the ones who help themselves” or something like that 🙂
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You would be amazed at how many times we’ve had that same conversation with our son. Drives me nuts!!! But confess we are at a loss to know how to encourage him any more than we have. He is, after all, an adult. It’s not like I can spank him any more. 😦 So I hear exactly what you’re saying.
As to the car, I did go back to work part time for H&R Block two years ago. And it was right up the street from out house. If I could find something else that close, I’d do it in a heart beat. I was fortunate enough to be able to drive our car that year. It was a very warm winter and we had virtually NO snow, so Drollery was able to drive the truck for the four months I worked.
The down side of that job was the stress of working for big business. It drove my sugar sky high. They wanted me to come back last year and I told them no, that I couldn’t afford the doctor bills!
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We live in a small cottage. When the kids visit, we are on top of each other. I love every moment of it, and miss them terrible when they’re gone, but I’m grateful when they have to go home and I can have my space back.
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I feel like that when Stef and thr kids come, too. Our house isn’t baby proof anynore. But right now I just feel like I live in a fish bowl. Had a bit of a spas out the last time I was feeling this way. But that time it was job related. I just see some of the same symptoms cropping up. I quit the job after crying for a couple weeks. Can’t do that with this situation. 😦
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(((((((Hugs!)))))) I don’t usually spaz out…I retreat inside myself. I know the signs, and try to head them off. Last January I didn’t do so well. I’m bound and determined to Not allow myself to get that bad again!!
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The worst part is, I get really short tempered with the pair of them over the littlest things. And I know it’s stupid, but it just happens.
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When I have my PMS moments, it’s like an out of body experience…I know why I’m behaving the way I am,yet I can’t stop myself….thankfully Jim understands, to,the point where he’ll say, it’s that time again!! lol
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