) is to get orginized!
I once worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant, stacking clean plates and cups as they emerged from a spray jet of superheated water. One day an enormous metal pot came down the conveyor belt. Lifting it was like grabbing a hot stove burner. The belt was still moving, so I couldn't drop the pot without smashing dishes, floor tiles, and other people's feet. There was nothing to do but carry the pot to its shelf. As I did so, a fine new thought arose in my mind.
Oh, well, I thought, a little pain never hurt anybody.
The incongruity of this statement made me laugh—while still holding that scalding metal. I ended up with second-degree burns on both hands, but I was oddly relaxed about it. Somehow I'd managed to accept this particular physical injury without any mental resistance or fear. In the absence of those psychological components, the overall experience was strangely stress-free.
I wish I could say I've viewed suffering this way ever since. Alas, my usual mind-set echoes the immortal words of Daffy Duck: "I can't stand pain. It hurts me." It's only when I can't avoid something moderately painful—when my back goes out or my throat gets sore or a karate buddy accidentally breaks my finger—that I remember my dishwashing epiphany. It's only a little pain, I remind myself. It won't hurt me.
Unfailingly, the moment I stop fearing and resisting it, the pain changes. It becomes smaller, more manageable and docile, like an enraged wolverine morphing into a fussy hamster. I just tried this at the dentist and found that having a needle pushed into my gums felt like a tiny deep-tissue massage. I genuinely enjoyed it, which is even more gratifying than it is disturbing.
The same perspective works wonders on emotional irritants: embarrassment, frustration, confusion, nervousness. I have a friend with an anxiety disorder who has learned to say, in the middle of a panic attack, It's just anxiety, nothing to worry about. At one level she's freaking out, but she refuses to add insult to injury by thinking, I can't stand this! It's got to stop! She's one of the calmest people I've ever met. Variations on the theme "A little pain never hurt anyone" are so useful I'm thinking of having the phrase tattooed on my body. But I'm afraid it would hurt. "
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I just thought that I would share something funny with you that Caleb said to me today ...
We went to the grocery store this morning, there is usually a blind man seated at the entrance collecting funds for the blind association.....today he was not there.
Caleb asked loudly " Mommy where's the blind man?"
and even before I could answer him, his face lit up and he shouted with glee
"Yay! This means he can see now!!!"
How sweet is that? If he's walking about and not seated on the chair then logically he can see now
I hope that you are all having a lovely weekend filled with little miracles
Smart habit Saturday
My week went pretty well, I managed to take lunch each day to work with me, I bought a small cooler bag as a lunchbox to encourage me to take cooldrink and/or ice water with me too - I really should drink more water!
In the interest of saving money, I aslo set up all my accounts on the internet so that I can pay these without going into the store and spending money on unnecessary things!!! Fabulous!
This week I am going to go back to trying to clean the kitchen before bedtime, clear and wipe all surfaces.
Enjoy your week!
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