Monday, February 24, 2014

A boring post about Laundry

Just a warning, before you read too much further you should know that this is just a boring post about laundry.

And, yet... it's also about much more then laundry.

Let me just begin by saying, I hate laundry. Anyone with me on this one??
I hate laundry so much that I will put it off and put it off until my husband has run completely out of underwear and socks. 
Poor guy.

Then, in one crazy whirlwind of an afternoon, I do six loads. 
Six FULL loads.
It gets super overwhelming, so I breathe a sigh of relief when everything is folded and put away - then feel a sense of liberation over the notion that I can wait another 3 weeks before starting the process all over again.

However, when I did my monthly laundry routine last weekend, a thought struck me; 
"this is no way to live!"

Now. This revelation was about much more then laundry.
Instead, it was far more about finding joy in the daily/weekly/...monthly tasks I am naturally inclined to loathe. 

I realized I hate laundry because I approach it with a begrudging attitude of obligation. I allow myself to hate it.

So, what did I change?
My attitude.
I still did six loads, just like every other time - but this time I made the decision to enjoy it.


This decision was about living out a life that is full of daily mundane tasks with an attitude of joy and appreciation. Laundry is only a part of this story because it was the means by which I encountered this revelation.

For many, this idea of joy is not a new one - but it is a forgotten one. 

My hope is to use the boring tasks I typically hate as a reminder that I am hating them by choice.

... and who knows, maybe I will even begin doing four loads of laundry every two weeks; instead of six loads every three weeks.
Baby steps.


Thursday, February 20, 2014

Today in Texas,
It was 68 degrees. Incredibly beautiful.
We opened a window and let the cool breeze in, took afternoon naps between classes, Sam gave a sermon in his preaching class, green leaves began to make another appearance, and a fresh batch of iced  mint tea made it's way onto the bottom shelf of our refrigerator. Success.