Too Busy To Shut The Blinds

...tick tick tick

Those who know me, know that I am nothing if not planful. (which yes, I know, is one of those fake, obnoxious, corporate words, but I like it.)

I plan what I’m going to wear, what I’m going to eat, I plan out my vacation allotment nine months in advance, and forecast my spending for each month on the 1st. I plan when I’m going to get gas, when I’m going to write thank you cards, and when I’m going for a run. My husband has, on more than one occasion, informed me that my lack of spontaneity is a detriment to our marriage.

Whenever I feel an absence of a plan, or am asked to weigh different options to form said plan, I quickly run through each scenario and do a cost/benefit analysis to determine my final decision. [am I sounding like fun, or what?]

The other day I came home from work to find that my husband had painted the window trim in our bedroom. This was one of those stupid chores that had caused more than its fair share of fights, so it was a noted completion. Due to the recent spit and polish, the blinds had been left off, and I was reminded by just how pretty it is with all the afternoon light pouring in. [The blinds were never up the 3 years before, not really consciously, but because we’d hung them up and then never bothered to do anything differently].

Unable to sit and simply enjoy how pretty it was I immediately began rehanging the blinds. While doing so I started contemplating whether or not each morning I should plan to add a minute to my a.m. routine and put the blinds up and down. I kid you not, I evaluated this for a good three or four minutes. “It’s worth it to just make this part of your morning routine, because think how nice it will be to get the sun returning from work.” “This isn’t even a habit worth starting, because you’re going to be too busy to do it successfully and you’re just going to slide right back into bad habits (e.g. blind non-opening). “Yes you will. “No I wont”. “Yes you will. “No I wont”. “I’m just too busy to shut the blinds!” When I actually realized I was feeling a twinge of anxiety about this debate and impending required decision I  burst out laughing with self-awareness (the kind one can only truly be capable of achieving if they’ve been junior league members of a decade of family therapy following parental divorce).

How truly ridiculous…feeling stressed about whether or not one can afford to open and close the blinds as they see fit. I realized too, that having come out of three weeks of house guests and endless engagements I had become “too busy” to do a lot of things….read, sleep, exercise, or cook or write in my blog.

Which is to say….here on August 27…I hereby do vow…for the next 34 days (e.g. September 30, it’s good to set realistic expectations) to not be “too busy” to make time for those things that truly matter.

Stay tuned for lots of fun recipes coming up! On the docket croquettes, velvet corn soup with crab and chili oil, and lobster risotto.