This has not been what I would call a normal week, but then again, I’m not sure exactly what a normal week is anymore…
- Jones came home sick on Monday with a wicked earache.
- The phone call came during my run, so I ended up running a little over 7 miles outside and then finished 3 more on the treadmill after I picked him up and got him settled at home.
- Tuesday I went on a desperate search for pants for his concert. Note to self: have him try on his concert pants more than 2 days before a concert. Kids CAN change sizes even if it’s only been a month since the last concert. Lesson learned.
- The Target cashier forgot to put one of my bags in my cart. It was the bag with the bread I needed for the next day’s lunches, so I had to find time to go back.
- Tuesday night was spent sitting in a middle school cafeteria while Jones rehearsed for the honors orchestra. I did what work I could do without internet access, which was kind of a challenge since we do all of our work in the “cloud”.
- Wednesday I had an 9.6 mile run where I felt every minute of my age (and then some.) Afterwards I kept thinking I had something in my sock. Turns out it was a blister the size of a quarter. (No idea how that happened!)
- The cleaning service was at my house when I got home from the run, so food and shower were not an option.
- Wednesday night was spent waiting while Jones rehearsed for a different concert and then played said concert.
- I arrived home late from the concert and spent the next ridiculous amount of time finishing laundry, hounding Jones’ about homework, and attempting to burn down the house while I made oatmeal.
To say I was a little cranky by the end of last night is a bit of an understatement. In fact, I nearly posted a whine on facebook about not getting to shower after my run.
And then I realized something…
None of my “problems” were worthy of a whine. In fact, every single one of my problems could be turned into a positive.
- Jones only has a cold.
- I am fortunate enough to own a treadmill.
- I can afford to buy him the clothes he needs, even if they only get worn once.
- I have easy access to (and can afford to buy) food.
- I have a job. Not only that, it’s a job that has amazing flexibility as long as I hit my deadlines.
- I am not only physically able to run, but I also have the flexibility to run when I want.
- Someone else does the deep clean on my bathroom. (Best thing ever when you live with three males.)
- Not only is Jones talented on the cello, but we live in a county that offers lots of options for play.
- I own a house. With a washer and dryer. And a stove.
I just need to get over myself and appreciate what I have. Because, really, I have it pretty damn good.
Am I the only one who sometimes only sees the negative side of things? Do you have to work hard to remember how good your life really is?
Sometimes I get into my little self-pity parties (always over trivial stuff!).
Excellent reminder about how great we do have it!!!
(I do hope the rest of your week is more “normal”!!!!)
I could 100% relate to this post! Been there with the concert pants even, and I can’t tell you how many times I have gotten mad at myself for cursing the “inconvenience” of having the cleaners in the house at the wrong time for me. First world problems indeed!
Way to turn things around! I would definitely postpone a shower for someone else to clean my bathrooms:)
The day it all changed for me was 3 years ago just after Christmas. I was impatient in line at Wegmans when I remembered my aunt who was on a g-tube due to massive cancer.
I was in line to buy food that I would chew. She couldn’t eat food. I shut my whining up and have since changed my views.
I fall into this trap often enough as well. It’s very easy to forget to have the right perspective. I had a rough morning and desperately needed a reminder to keep perspective. Thank you 🙂
I have a tendency to focus on the negative and work really hard to recognize the positive. This month, I lost two friends close to me and it was a dose of perspective I really needed going into a New Year.
Good post. I like how you turned everything around. I have a cold right now but it’s not the flu! I have a sick day so I’m not losing pay. I have no race on the schedule this weekend.
I had a post last week basically about the same damn thing: Feeling whiney but knowing I don’t truly have anything to whine about.
Amazing post! We often find ourselves tired, over worked and feeling negative. What’s amazing is that you were able to turn it around! The best thing I have learned to do for myself and those I love is to be able to LET IT GO! all that negativity kills you inside.
I’m always a little more negative a round that time of the month. But some weeks can be worse than others – when there seems to be lots of challenging stuff to deal with. And it’s normal to get a bit frustrated.
I used to have issues with the band pants thing too. When your son grows from 5’9″ to 6’3″ in a short amount of time it’s bound to happen and there were some concerts where his ankles were showing more than acceptable amount of sock. Thank goodness he’s a percussionist and they stand at the back.
This is so SO true! Even though I’m staying in a third world country…most days it doesn’t feel like it. The economy here is hit a little harder but short of central aircon in my house I have everything I had in the states. When Hubby and I start groaning about things I keep reminding myself of how spoilt I actually am! ;-0
Love that you were able to step back and see the other side of things. I’ve been falling into this trap a lot lately – thanks for the perspective!
I love this. Man, isn’t it easy to fall into woe-is-me when our lives are full. The irony of that is not lost on me and I’m glad that fate puts posts like this into my life just when I need to read them and be reminded I don’t really have any complaints either. Thank you.
With a horrible cold last week and not being able to be active I was down in the dumps last week, big time. But then, after my son won his hockey game, I too remember how could I have it. I have a loving family, a nice home, I’m healthy (overall) and I really have nothing to complain about when I think of what other people in the world have to deal with. Thanks for all the great points you made and I hope this week is better for you!