The next time you look at me and think, “Wow, she’s really got her act together to get so much done!” just remember this story. Names have not been changed to protect the innocent…no one here is innocent.
Everybody says I have to be vulnerable if I want my readers to relate to me.
I get that. We all appreciate being reminded “It’s not just me.”
I know I don’t tend to dwell on life’s tough issues when I write for this blog or post on social media. It’s not my style to share every twinge of angst or stress. For the most part, being sunny and encouraging is authentic and is what gives me life and joy. I’m not trying to hide anything…just choosing what to focus on.
But yesterday I ran off the rails in a way that made me laugh out loud. It was a vulnerable moment I had to share, and if you don’t relate, I don’t want to know about it. I’d rather believe everyone else does this too.
Here’s what happened:
It started with an empty toilet paper roll
I realized the downstairs bathroom was out of toilet paper so I went upstairs.
When I got up there, I couldn’t remember why I had gone upstairs, so while I was there, I made the bed and put my shoes back in the closet.
Then I went in the upstairs bathroom to brush my teeth and comb my hair. I noticed that the hairbrush needed cleaning, so I used my comb to remove the hair and left the hairbrush soaking in a sink full of hot soapy water. While I was at it, I put out fresh towels.
Then I went downstairs (still failing to remember what I had come up for), opened the front door, stepped out on the front porch, and nestled the ball of hair from my brush in the top of a boxwood bush, hoping a bird would spy it and use it to build their nest. It’s gone today, so I guess I was right.
Then I remembered why I had gone upstairs in the first place
I went back up the steps, grabbed a few rolls of toilet paper, and came back down to restock the downstairs bathroom.
While I was on my way up for the second time, I thought, “I’ve got to share this ridiculous experience,” and I thought of a brilliant title for the blog post. By the time I got back downstairs to my notebook, this title was completely gone from my brain. The one I’m using here is a poor substitute.
Am I going crazy?
I’m pleading the Fifth on that one but just look at all the things I got done while my memory was failing me!
Maybe I’m just brilliant. No wonder I get so much done in a day!
Those of us who aspire to the #HeartspokenLife have to expect a little crazy brilliance from time to time. Have you exhibited any symptoms lately?
Happy, Happy Mother’s Day!
So I go upstairs to get the tp, then see that the plants need watering, do that, notice some spiderwebs in guest room, dust them, hear garbage men outside so run to collect trash before they leave, lock myself out of front door, go to backdoor to get in, have to pee and…no tp. Sigh
Oh my gosh, Katherine, that sounds like a Candid Camera episode! I am laughing out loud imagining it, knowing full well I’ve done similar things. Thanks for admitting it and making us smile…
Well, I do relate in ways and yet I tell myself different stories to get through it. I do recall that one Monday my husband, Jon, had appointments all day – 9 to 5. First the VA for an annual physical with fasting labs. Then from 2-5 p.m. the dentist was preparing his mouth for a bridge that goes in on June 5th. In between appointments I suggested we stop by the store to pick up a couple of items and get take out lunch. The next day I did laundry and noticed that Jon’s id cards had been washed. I found 3 but not the 4th. I called everywhere, searched the car to find it to no avail. Next time Jon had to drive, he picked up the non-driver’s license and noticed the driver’s license was stuck to the back. In my defense, I would never have thought to look there!!! When I make these extra efforts or forget what I was doing I use it as a memory exercise or a patience exercise. I tell myself what I need to know will surface and when I am unable to find something I say, it will turn up. I find it an adventure to see how the mind works so very well. Having been taught multi-tasking by our society, as we age we might like to focus on one thing at a time. That is what we are doing. Focusing – just so very hard though. I also like one thing that Brother David Steindl-Rast teaches about Grateful Living: Stop – Look – Go. Stop is the courageous aspect that if we pause in our steps we trust Life to show us something. Look – for the opportunity that is presenting itself and Go – into action. Elizabeth gave birds nesting materials, tidied up and replenished the needed papers (the really important ones!) Pamela realized how precious her sunglasses are and discovered she was protecting them all the time. I discovered that Jon remembered he had to show his driver’s license when we were out so I could call the place and he found the driver’s license to show me that I do not have to solve everything. For me – I am not fond of the word crazy or losing my mind or early dementia or senior moment for they put the focus on something pejorative about how we work. We are creating routine and making room for our wisdom to emerge.
Very interesting post Elizabeth, which I found because of the link in the May Toolkit.
Thank you
Pamela, you are absolutely right that using the word “crazy” was insensitive. Of course I meant it only as a touch of humor.
I love that you’ve found ways to reframe these moments. “All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.” ~ Julian of Norwich
Thanks for sharing what many of us are experiencing, but until now didn’t realize the necessity for forgetting what we were trying to do. It’s a wonderful thing, now we realize, because look at all you got done while you were forgetting! But in answer to your question, yes, this happens to me often. And worse. For example, yesterday my guy and I went for a long walk in a beautiful New England village. All was fine until the sun went under the clouds, and I took my sunglasses off and put on my regular glasses instead. Fifteen minutes later, I began to panic. “I’ve lost my sunglasses!” I said to my guy. We looked everywhere – at the path we’d been on, at the bench we’d sat on, at the small Inn where I’d stopped to use the bathroom. I love these sunglasses -and they are prescription! Suddenly I looked down at my hand, which was curling in distress. “Uh, honey?” I began. I nodded toward my hand. I’d been holding my sunglasses all along. Now that’s just plain embarrassing….
Oh my gosh, if I had a dollar for the number of times I’ve lost my sunglasses, I’d be a rich woman today. And yes, they’re often either in my hand, on my head, or in a pocket somewhere. Sigh…
It happens to me ALL the time!!! Today, I walked all over looking for my glasses and my cell phone. Glasses were on me. Cell phone was in my pocket. Sigh.
Oh boy, do I ever related to THAT! Thanks for reading and commenting!
Ha ha! I loved this, Elizabeth. I’m having more moments of crazy brilliance all the time. Your post makes it—well—something to be desired. Maybe it’s one of the many rewards we receive at this stage of life.
Oh, I do hope so, Linda! I decided to take it in stride and laugh at myself. It beats crying any day! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!