Sunday, July 9, 2017

I'm not stuck. I'm waiting.

Last week I saw a meme on Facebook that was so perfect for me that I printed it out and taped it to my computer desk:

Everything will fall into place.
You just gotta be patient
and trust the process.


I took that to heart. Here's what's happening.

1. Downsizing. I had told my husband Art, "I want us to downsize inside the house and outside, and then look for a new place to live that doesn't have stairs or a big yard." He went silent but reluctantly started getting rid of stuff. 

Then, out of the blue, I got a different thought. I said, "I want us to declutter and rightsize inside and outside of the house, but make no plans to move. That way we'll be more ready, if and when a good opportunity comes along." It's a compromise that works for both of us.

2. I do the accounting for the nonprofit agency at the refugee camp in Greece where I've volunteered. I wait for others to send me receipts, tax records, and bank statements. The 2016 taxes have been hanging over my head. I just dawned on me - much later than it should have - that there is not much more I can do until I get what I need. In a couple of days I'll be caught up with my part. Then I will be patient. Everything will fall into place. I can trust the process.

3. I am helping one of my sons through a business crisis. I'm more of a consultant than anything. He is tearing his hair out. I know what I'd do a little differently if I were him, but I'm only the consultant. He is the decision maker. I think he will come out all right. I am not losing sleep over someone else's issue. Everything will fall into place. I'm grateful for the help I can give him.

4. I have been doing family mediations for several years and they're not as fun as they had been. So recently I've not signed up to do them. But there's a training coming up next week for mediators interested in working with a Native American tribe in my county. I figure if I can mediate at a refugee camp in Greece for seven men who, except for one, speak only Farsi, I'll be fine with the Native cultural differences. I know I trust that process!

5. I am in week seven of Weight Watchers. Today I moved a couple of pairs of pants from the "it's a little too small" side of my closet to the "I can wear this" side. I am looking forward, several months down the road, to lower blood pressure, more stamina and happier feet. I am following directions. I trust the process.

Sometimes when I'm just going about my daily business, and it looks pretty similar day after day, I think I'm stuck in a rut. Often, though, I'm just waiting.

Everything will fall into place.
You just gotta be patient
and trust the process.

And here's one story about our downsizing adventure:

Twenty years ago I bought a stoneware dinner set: salad and dinner plates, cups and saucers, butter dish and sugar and creamer and salt and pepper shakers, serving plates and serving bowls. We have a big family, after all, and I like to set a nice table every now and then. The rest of the time we use Corelle.

Now we're doing the downsizing thing. I don't think we've ever used the stoneware cups and saucers. Today, going through one of the kitchen cabinets, I told Art I thought we could get rid of them. eBay has them for sale for $2.50 apiece, so they're a good Goodwill item. Art reached to the top shelf and handed me the cups one by one, and then the saucers. I was going to find a box to put them in, when Art said, "I think I may have the original box in the garage."

"You're kidding!"

He was right. We will take the cups and saucers to Goodwill in the box they came in 20 years ago!

I can hardly wait until we start working on the garage.

15 comments:

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

It feels so good to declutter. I have no intention of moving soon but getting rid of unused items is a goal of mine and I visit Goodwill often. When it comes the time to move on, the job will be lighter.

Janette said...

A good way to think about it. Downsizing, with no real agenda to move immediately. I can wrap my mind around that! Thanks for the mind track :)

DJan said...

I'm glad it's all coming together for you, Linda. I like the idea of "rightsizing" rather than "downsizing." A perfect mantra for you today. :-)

Kathy @ SMART Living 365.com said...

Hi Linda! I so believe in trusting the process! I know it is easy to get in a rush about things but most of the time it will work itself though as long as we hold calmly to the intention. And I LOVE that story about the cups and saucers. I might just have to use it as an example next time I write a blog post about rightsizing because it perfectly illustrates the "why" of it all. It sounds like you are having a wonderful and relaxing summer. Keep it up! ~Kathy

Arkansas Patti said...

I think you have hit upon the secret of a low stress life that we should all adopt. It ought to be taught in school before we get all tangled up in minutia.

Olga said...

Now that is hysterical to me that the box was still available. You are smart to start the process now though. Moving is stressful enough without having to make all the what stays and what goes decisions at the last minute. And I know for sure that one needs mediation skills if you help someone else try to downsize.

Saku said...

Oh wow, to still have that box in the garage. That's incredible, that it has lasted so long without being used for another purpose. Or gotten damaged.

I like your idea of right-sizing and getting prepared for the future. Good luck!
Eileen

Terra said...

Your idea to simply declutter without deciding to move is a good one. Now you can downsize possessions without pressure of time.

Linda Reeder said...

I love the box story!
You are such a logical person. i will have to remember your wisdom about downsizing when we are ready to start the process.

Madeline Kasian said...

I have a friend who does Crisis work on various Indian reservations throughout Arizona.. quite the challenge.She is an experienced social worker/counselor. Every single tribe has different sets of rules, customs, etc. And of course, their communication methods are quite different that the white folks.I'm sure that's what you'll be learnngn about in training-- I'd love to hear of your work when you do get started with ti!

Sally Wessely said...

That box is an indicator that you need to downsize the possessions. I say that only because that is how we used to be. We not only had too much stuff, we had the boxes the stuff came in. Downsizing when one doesn't really have to do so is the best time to start. I'm sorting and tossing on a more regular basis these days.

I love the way you give inspiration about following a process and trusting it. Sometimes, I lose sight of that. I needed to hear this.

Congratulations on the WW achievements! Good for you.

joared said...

Sounds like you have movement in progress toward downsizing, one step at a time. I need to be a bit more aggressive doing so here. Congrats on the wt loss -- something else I need to do more of as have tolerated a plateau much too long. Glad things working out so well. Much to be said for practicing patience in many situations - easy to say, but can be harder to do.

Cynthia said...

Thank you for commenting on my blog -- because it led me to reading yours! Which I find myself quite enjoying.
Right-sizing is a very good thing to do and I think is less emotionally fraught than downsizing (even it's really the same thing.). It's been good for us even if there was a considerable amount of erm, discussion, along the way! Hang in there. Once you start seeing progress and how it makes you feel so light it gets easier and easier. For husbands especially for some reason.

Dee said...

Dear Linda, thank you for that quote. It's exactly what I needed to read today. I've been doing so much napping and sleeping and I've found myself dissatisfied with my seeming laziness. But if I trust the process of recuperation then maybe all this is my body saying, "You need to rest. Be gracious to yourself."

I wonder if you have always been so able to find peace within yourself and to bring forth a wisdom that helps others--your family, those in Greece, those with whom you mediated, and now the Native Americans with whom you will work. Trusting your own wisdom and intuition is truly, I think, part of that process that is important to you. I hope to emulate your wisdom in this. Thank you for this posting. Peace.

Elizabeth said...

After two months traveling with 12kg I came back inspired to finally throw all those clothes away that are seldom worn. I'll take them to the charity shop tomorrow before they have the chance to wander back into the cupboard. I might start on the kitchen while the inspiration lasts.
I hope your declutter efforts continue to be so successful.