Little Things

I went to the grocery store today. Christine and I enjoy shopping at a particular grocer despite the fact that it is not terribly convenient. We like their small size and large selection. The only aspect of the experience I do not like are the rude customers. Some people act as if only they exist. Instead of getting upset I take a deep breath and think about the little things in life that make me happy.

We sometimes forget that it really is the small details that make us smile or give us warm feelings. Seeing a cute baby or new puppy makes even the most cold-hearted stop and look. Watching seeds grow into beautiful flowers makes us feel good. A nice and relaxing drive allows us to simply enjoy the scenery. Even an hour spent in quiet reflection brings a sense of peace we sorely lack.

Most of us have an endless list of tasks we must accomplish. We get so caught up in what we must do we never find time to do what we would like to do. I admit that it feels good to end my day with having all jobs completed. What about the things we want to do rather than have to do? It is not easy to integrate our work selves with our other selves.

I would like to enjoy my hobbies or catch up on my reading. I tell myself how important these things are. Being busy feels so natural that I give little thought to these things during my day. The last thing I want is to fall behind and end up in a proverbial hole. When I fall behind on some tasks they become that much more stressful when I finally make time to handle them. There seems to be some price to pay no matter how efficient I am. Something always falls by the wayside.

So what is the solution? I wish I knew. Christine and I are both in the same boat. We are perfectionists and workaholics. Neither of us can ever do enough in a day. We never quite feel good about ourselves no matter how hard we work. This is something we both have in common. Being too hard on ourselves may just be the root of this issue.

There are some ways we can combat this problem. Being easier on ourselves is the first step. We must be willing to admit our own limitations. Seeing that relaxation and enjoyment are just as important as work is the next step. Scheduling chores and games will help to balance our days. It is so hard to be objective about this issue. Christine and I decided that we would help each other devise a plan for change. Each of us is better at helping the other than we are at helping ourselves.

Can you relate to any of the issues I have mentioned? I am sure my wife and I are not alone in this. Many of us spend too much time with work and too little with friends, family and ourselves. This problem is far from simple. I do not mean to suggest otherwise. I only hope that I have offered some guidance toward fixing the problems in your own life. You never know what words of advice will be useful to you. Maybe you will find a few as you peruse my blog. Stranger things have happened!