"What do you want to do?", my daughter asked me, yesterday, when she called and we were discussing our plans for the evening.
"I should organize the files", I said.
"What you want to do?"
"I should water the garden."
"What do you want to do?"
"I ought to..."
"No, want...what do you want to do?"
I really didn't know what I wanted to do. All I could think of were the things I felt I should do or ought to do! How sad was that?
It wasn't the first time I've had similar conversations with my daughter. I feel I can't relax and do something fun when there are all the cleaning type things I should be doing, instead! I feel guilty about relaxing when I should be putting the house in order!
Which is why I included doing a crafts project on the to do list for today!
Today, after I woke up and had my tea, I responded to blog comments, read and commented on a few other blogs, and watched a little of the morning news. Then, I put in a load of laundry to wash and while it was washing, I vacuumed the house. The wash cycle takes almost one hour and by the time it was done, I had finished vacuuming. Then, I hung the laundry to dry and had my brunch - leftover pancakes with bacon. After brunch, I practiced the piano.
In the afternoon, I called the pharmacy because they had texted me that they were waiting to hear from my doctor about one of my medications which needed a refill. I had a feeling that they were calling the wrong doctor's office and I was right! They were calling the former doctor, who I last saw at least two years ago! I can't remember how often I've told the pharmacy to change the prescribing doctor for my medications; they change it for one, but, not the rest! Got that changed, again.
While I was on the phone with the pharmacy, my daughter texted me that they had a fire alarm at the apartment building and had to evacuate! Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm (some maintenance was being done in one of the hallways, and some spray or a vibration set off the fire alarm!) But, she (and the other tenants) had to wait until the fire department came and declared the all clear, before she could go back. She said she had just got in and settled back down to work, when she heard someone putting a key in her door lock and trying to unlock it! She called out to ask who it was and checked through the peep hole in the door; she said the person (a woman in a baseball cap and pulling a dolly) left! Perhaps it was someone who was on the wrong floor and thought it was her apartment?
After that, I watched some news and did some paperwork and filing.
Eventually, after tea, I decided to get out the crafts project - one of the quilts in progress. I had finished sewing the top, back in April, 2019! I blogged about it, here:
 |
| Mile a Minute Quilt (Old Photo) |
I pieced the top, sewed the borders, put a backing together using flannel fabric I had on hand, and never finished it! Today, I took out some batting that I had. It wasn't quite big enough for the quilt, so I sewed on another strip of leftover batting to it to make it big enough. I will assemble the quilt, tomorrow.
Later in the evening, I chatted with friend R and video chatted with my daughter.
Today, I am grateful for:
- Conversations with my daughter
- It was a false fire alarm and daughter is safe
- Nobody tried to break into her apartment
- Working appliances
- The reminder to make time for play
Today's joyful activity was video chatting with my daughter.
Wednesday's To Do List:
I wonder what it is that makes it so difficult for us to prioritise what we want to be doing over what we feel we should be doing.
ReplyDeleteI originally read it as organising your flies. :)
Ha, ha, I went back and double checked to see if I typed "flies" instead of "files"! :D
DeleteI don't know, Jules. Maybe we have been brought up to believe that we are being selfish if we put our wants first?
I've been having lots of conversations (with myself!) about what I need to do and what I want to do. I've decided that too often I deal with 'need to' rather than 'want to' and, as this is the stage of life where I should be indulging in 'want to', it's time to make changes. I'm currently completing a list of things I want to do but it's not easy. I can come up with plenty of ideas and then when I look at the list a few days later, I delete most entries because they are things that I 'think' I should want to do, not actually things I do want to do (if you can follow what I mean). I have started choosing a daily joyful activity again, making sure I decide in the morning what that will be rather than looking back in the evening and saying that 'X' counted as my joyful activity for the day. I find it makes a difference, especially now I can't go out as much.
ReplyDeleteWe are at similar stages in life, aren't we? What you said about the list being what you 'think' you should want to do and not what you actually want to do, certainly makes sense to me! I, too, did something similar, when I spoke with my daughter about traveling, telling her that maybe I should travel (this was, obviously, pre-Covid!); she knew that I don't really like to travel and I admitted it was only because I felt I should, since I was retired (isn't that what retired people are supposed to do?). LOL. In the end, I decided that what I really wanted to do was just stay at home. I, too, have fallen back to the habit of looking over what I did during the day and deciding what was my joyful activity, instead of deciding ahead of time! It was supposed to be something to look forward to! Not quite sure when that changed!
DeleteI'm not very good about relaxing to do something "frivolous" when there are chores to be done, either. But yesterday, I had the day off and I actually spent a couple of hours reading for pleasure. It was hard to get started, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you were able to take some time off to relax and read for pleasure, Live and Learn. We all deserve a little time for self-care, rest and relaxation. :)
DeleteWednesday totally taken over by an energetic 4 year old. But she went home at 4 and we took a picnic supper to a quiet beach. We sat for 2 hours enjoying the waves and sun, and reading our books. Later, at midnight, we took our chairs into the garden to watch the Perseids meteor shower. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThat picnic supper on the beach sounds delightful. I am glad you were able to watch the meteor shower. I tried to watch and couldn't see anything!
DeleteThe first part of your blog is very impactful. Some of us of a given age have worked, raised our family and now should be able to do what we want to do (Sometimes! I know there are things that must be done, but does the world or anyone in my world suffer if I don't vacuum and read a book instead?) And just like that you have changed my mind. Instead of doing housework, I am going to go swimming!
ReplyDeleteI am glad I was able to help, Anne! :D Swimming (or, just being in the water, as I don't swim) sounds so much better than housework! :)
DeleteHmmm. I feel that craft project still falls under the category of "should do" rather than "want to do"! But at least it is not a household chore.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I decided I would forego the grocery shopping this morning as I can pick up a few things tomorrow when I have coffee with my friend, and then catch up on the other store next week. It was a relief to have this morning off, and DH made banana oatmeal pancakes under supervision! I have to e-mail him a detailed step-by-step recipe that I typed, so he can put it into his "recipe binder". My recipe card was for my own information and the details were in my head. He can print me a copy too, in case one day I forget the details!!
You know, you might be right about the quilt being a "should do" rather than a "want to do"! Which might be why it didn't get done, today! LOL. I would much rather sit and piece a top than assemble the quilt!
DeleteYour plan to not do any grocery shopping today sounds like it was the right decision for you. Maybe going to the two stores on alternate weeks might be a good option for you.
Well done, DH making breakfast! It's always good to have a detailed recipe on hand, just in case! :)
Lovey quilt! It still sounds like you got a lot of the 'should dos' done rather than what you wanted!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. I am still struggling to find a good balance between things I "should" do and want to do. I am going to give it some thought over the weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteDidn't your daughter have a fire alarm go off in her apartment complex recently?
ReplyDeleteIt must be a touch alarm.
It had to be pretty unsettling for her when someone attempted to open her door. I would've been upset by that. But, like she thought, I'm sure it was just someone confused.
That's such a pretty quilt. Any plans for it?
Yes, she did, Debra! It was back in April. You have a good memory!
DeleteShe was a bit rattled, but, very glad that that person's key didn't work in her door lock! :)
Thank you; no, no plans for the quilt. Just something I put together because I enjoyed the piecing. Although, if I do ever put it together and finish it, I might be able to give it as a gift (or use it, myself).
I want to travel, but that is not in the cards quite yet. Although we have been taking a few drives just to get out. It is always nice to get back to projects in progress. I hope you were able to finish the pretty quilt.
ReplyDeleteI hope you do get the opportunity to travel in the future, Susanne. I traveled a bit when I was much younger, but, these days, I prefer to stay at home. :) No, I haven't finished the quilt, yet. It is too hot to handle flannel and batting!
Delete