I’m trying to print and the printer is out of ink. Why does that always happen?! Ugh, I just want things to work!
And the kitchen sink is full of dirty dishes! They need to be washed. I don’t have any clean forks.
And my office desk is cluttered with paperwork, unfiled bills, and old greeting cards! I pick up a folded piece of paper, look at it, and open a filing cabinet. I find a folder and stick the paper in it. Then I lose my nerve and become distracted with the plate of half-eaten toast on my desk. I grab it, dump the old toast in the trash, and open the dishwasher but the dishes are all clean. I stick the dirty plate in the sink, on top of the mound of other dirty dishes. I really need to empty the clean dishes.
I don’t have time for this! I need to be doing other things! I look around and see things that need to be put away. And there are clean clothes in the dryer that need to be folded.
As usual, I feel overwhelmed and shudder at the thought of having to do such menial, non-intellectual tasks. I like having a clean house, but not enough to actually do the cleaning.
Such tasks take away from what I really want to be doing. Reading and writing. I have several great ideas for books and short stories, but I need time to sit down.
Right now, I want to crawl into a corner with a book and hide. From everything. From phone calls. From text messages. From bills and tax collectors. From my day job. From life.
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It’s overwhelming at times, isn’t it? There’s always something vying for our time, and it’s so easy for our writing to be the first casualty. Sigh.
Absolutely! I try to consider, when I’m on my deathbed, will I be more pleased that I spent most of my time cooking/cleaning, or that I did things that have meaning for me, like spend time with loved ones, travel, and create? Putting it that way, the choice is obvious 🙂
I mistakenly thought retirement would mean more time before the computer writing! Well, the wife and friends have other ideas. Not dirty dishes or laundry folding though.
Grandkids, soccer, bowling, and other family demanding events.
Fortunately, I do get moments sandwiched in to keep my blog alive and edit a work in progress.
Yes! Except the dishes part … if only all housework was like washing dishes. Warm, comforting, time to daydream … I love washing dishes.
Washing dishes is certainly not the worst chore! 🙂