(no subject)

[murielle]

22-5-10

Therealljidol:  Three Strikes

Week 7, prompt 7: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

 

Conversations With Myself cont…

 

I’m overwhelmed.  Life's too hard and it’s an insurmountable mess and I can’t cope.

You know what Teddy Roosevelt said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

What does that even mean?  There’s no way I can do anything about this catastrophe.  What am I supposed to do?  My life is in chaos.  Ruins.  A disaster.

I understand.  Let’s just start with where you are—where are you?

At home.

That’s great.  Let’s start there.  And, let’s start small.  Are your dishes done?

Yes.           

Are they dried and put away?

Not yet.  They’re air drying.

Okay, well as soon as they’re dry put them away.

Right.  I’ll make a note to do that, and in the meantime?

Is your laundry done?  Is it put away?

Yes and no.

What’s the yes?

My last load of laundry is done.

Is it put away?

No.  I’ll put that on the note as number two.

Excellent!  Except since the dishes are still drying, let’s put putting the laundry away as number one, then maybe by the time you’re finished the dishes will be dry and you can put them away.

It wasn’t a big laundry.  It won’t take very long.

Well that’s good.  That means you can do something else for the second thing on your list.  Is your bed made?

Sort of.

Sort of?

I turned it down to air.

Do you think it’s been airing long enough to make?

Probably.

Okay!  That’s progress.

Uh, wait a minute.  There’s a problem.

With making your bed?

No, with folding the clothes first.

What’s the problem with folding your clothes?

I need to fold the clothes on the bed so technically, I need to make the bed before I fold the clothes.

FYI that would be actually, not “technically” but it’s not a problem.  We can be flexible.  Make the bed, then fold the clothes and put them away.

Well, then I will “actually” do that.

Don’t be shirty, I’m trying to help.

“Don’t be shirty, I’m trying to help.”

Are you quite finished?

Buffy says nobody says “shirty.”

Well if Buffy says it, it must be true.

(Twenty minutes later…)

The bed’s made.  And the clothes are folded and put away.

Are the dishes dry?

Not yet.

You said the last load of laundry.  Is there more to do?

Yes.

How much?

A lot: three loads of clothes, a load of towels and a load of sheets.

What’s your plan?

To do the clothes tomorrow, towels and sheets on Friday.

That’s a good plan.  Is everything sorted and ready to go?

Ready to go?  I don’t have to go anywhere the laundry room is next door.

Sorted and ready to be laundered.  And do not tell me that no one says “laundered” anymore.

Far be it from me to “tell” you anything.  The towels and sheets are sorted, but the clothes aren’t.

Then you could do that while you’re waiting for the dishes to dry.

Number three:  sort clothes for laundering.

And if the dishes aren’t dry what else could you do while you’re waiting?

I have some sprouts that need planting.

That sounds like a plan?  And if the dishes are still not dry?

I could start dinner.

What’s for dinner?

I thought chicken Quesadillas.  I’ll go and take the chicken out of the freezer now.

That sounds delicious.  Can I stay for dinner?

Are you trying to be funny?

Yes.  Is there anything else you can do between fixing dinner—please don’t tell me it isn’t broken—and putting the dishes away?

Well, I have a story to write for Idol.

That sounds like fun.  I’ll happily help you with that.

No thanks.  I’ll do it myself.

Well fine.  I’ll just go and watch House.  Bye.

Um, you can’t.

Why?

Because you can’t turn the computer on without me and I’ll be busy.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Um…what you can, with what you have, where you are?

You are a complete…

Thank you, Murielle.  Toodles.

You’re welcome, Murielle.  Toodle pip.

Comments

[drippedonpaper]

The unending grind of household chores. It reminds me of the meme that says, "Who will always be there for you? Laundry. No matter what it will be there."

But yes, when things are overwhelming, break them down to small steps. You are doing great.

Your entry reminds me of a lyric, "Change the voices in your head / Let them like you instead."

Sounds simple, but can be hard to do.

Good luck on the rest of the laundry. Come to think of it, I need to put some away... :)

[murielle]

Laundry! The one constant, reliable, always.

Thank you so much for this very thoughtful comment. Lots to consider here. Thank you. <3