TToT – Start with Gratitude
Despite the fact that I’ve been working steadily, I find myself still struggling to get any real momentum this morning.
I don’t usually have Monday Blues or whatever. In fact, I quite love Mondays. I rarely schedule outside appointments for Mondays, Zilla and Hub are back at school and work, the cats sleep off their weekend for most of the day, so I have a full day of blank slate in front of me.
But today – I’m feeling slow.
So I figured the way to get things moving this morning was to start with gratitude, to reflect on what is good in life rather than bemoan whatever is keeping me from putting it in gear today.
Maybe the cold temperature is the problem. Our weather here has been ridiculous – 70 degrees at one end of the week, 30 degrees at the other – and right now it’s pretty chilly. That makes it difficult to want to crawl out of a warm bed. But that also means that Zilla and I spent a few extra minutes just snuggling this morning before hitting the floor and that is a mighty fine way to start any day. I can be thankful for a few extra minutes to hold my little girl…before she’s not so little any more.
I’m thankful for Rotten Cats who sleep on my feet and keep them warm at night, especially when said Rottens are polite and don’t hog up the whole bed.
By the time I hit the kitchen this morning, the Hub had vacuumed the stairs, made the coffee, put out the morning vitamins, etc., and brought up some clean laundry for Zilla. Hey, at least one of us put it in gear effectively this morning, so there’s something to be thankful for. Truly, I’m very grateful for all of the things he does around here to keep things running – and he does A LOT.
Maybe my problem today is that I’m still feeling the effects of that horrible flu (and subsequent bronchitis) (and subsequent sinus infection) that hit me back before Valentine’s Day. People weren’t kidding when they said the fatigue and aftereffects would last for three weeks or more. I hate that feeling. But. At this point I can say that even though I am not nearly at 100 percent, I am feeling a little better and stronger every day. So I am thankful for measurable progress.
As a result of all the sick around here lately, I am most definitely behind on so many things I need to accomplish – writing, reading, a few deadlines and promises to get things done for people, chores around the house. The lists are huge. I am thankful that I have no dearth of things to keep me busy and productive, though. And I’m grateful that those to whom I promised work are understanding of the fact that I’ve been down sick. I am also thankful to have a plan (and a very cool planner) for getting things done. The lists and plans I’m working on have resulted in keeping me on track and helping me start a major purge and de-clutter project in our house. The last time we did a major cleanout was when we had the floors done, so it’s definitely time.
I’m extremely thankful that spring is right around the corner – at least by the calendar. Daylight Saving Time begins again this coming Sunday and the first day of Spring is just eight days later. Of course, just because the calendar says so doesn’t guarantee anything weather-wise, but it’s a mental thing. It’s a turning of the page, a step forward into the next phase of life.
We’re ready.
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I am so thankful you are slowing starting to feel a little better! I am glad you treasure those morning snuggles with Zilla, all too soon they are grown up and you wonder where the years went! I am amazed you can get a photo of all three cats together, do they hang around with each other a lot? Your hubby is amazing! How wonderful to get up and find things already being done! When you finish getting your house purged, come and help with mine. It’s a slow job that I don’t enjoy much, but the results are awesome when I get a spot done! Yay for Spring coming soon, it’s my very favorite time of the year! Blessings to you in the week ahead! XOXO
I have one spot semi-finished – my desk. And when I say semi-done, I’m being totally honest. The first pass was to simply clear space and take inventory. In the process, I tossed an entire grocery bag of just…junk. Now I have to go through again and actually do things like file and put away and such. Baby steps. I haven’t done today’s purging yet – I’m doing this thing called 40 bags in 40 days and I do think it could be a very good process.
I am definitely feeling better in small increments, but I’ll take it.
I absolutely treasure our snuggles. I often think I could be out of bed and exercising or getting some early morning writing or chores done, but once I’m up she’s less likely to come down the hall and crawl in with me. So I kind of like being there and available. All too soon she won’t be, so I want to take full advantage. I try to focus on what is really important right this minute? What is fleeting? What can wait or fit in some other time slot? It helps.
As for three cats in one place…well, never when I want them to be, of course! That photo is pretty old, so that should say something. They often collect in one spot when it is least convenient for them to do so. 😀
Blessing for your week, too. xo
Good list. It does, always, start with getting out of bed (no matter what time of day).
However, how we feel about what we (must) do is such a significant factor. I would go so far as to say that how we feel at the start of the day totally holds sway on how our day/lives play out.
(‘course the Doctrine is way big on perception being reality… well, more a matter of our relationship to our perceptions, or, as we prefer, ‘how we relate ourselves to the world around us’)
good post is them what gets the reader to thinking …and such
Heh – oh, I got out of bed…just couldn’t get it in gear. 😀 I’m totally with you in the perception is reality concept. I think that’s true of so much in life – and how we react to that perception is even more powerful.
Yes, I am ready for spring as well. The warm teases are so lovely, but the drops in temperature and the cruel winds set my teeth on edge. When I feel the most overwhelmed and have tons and tons to accomplish, my best tool is a list. As you say, it keeps you on task and making progress. Hopefully, you’ll be feeling 100% by next week. Luxuriate in the peace and quiet of your Monday.
I think that’s the worst part, Val – we get that warm teaser, then we are thrust back into the frigid winter. For some reason today I just can’t get warm!
I love a good list. If I can see what has to be done and physically cross it off the list, it helps me immensely.
Overtime you talk of your three cats I think of my one and wonder if he’d like a pal. Then I think better of it. Maybe, once you have multiples, you don’t notice the number so much?
🙂
Sounds like you are gradually getting better, but I hope the worst is behind you, for a long time. Spring is on its way.
I think it depends on the cat, really. Some like the company of other cats; some prefer to be the only cat in the house. Our three love the heck out of one another – they’re litter mates, so I suppose that could be part of it. We originally adopted two because that’s what we agreed on. They were the last three in the litter, but even though we considered the third briefly, we left with two, as planned. About a month later, the foster mom who had them said the remaining cat had changed. He wouldn’t play with other cats in the foster home anymore, wouldn’t interact with people at adoption days – she said he actually seemed to miss his brothers. So after thinking it over, we went back and got him and we’ve never once regretted it.