The past week and a half have been anything but normal. House and pet sitting. Renovations upstairs. Ripping down walls. A major renovation happening tomorrow on the entire house. Company for dinner all last week and over the weekend. Custom orders last week and this coming week. Prepping for the Bombogenesis storm that hit us on Friday. Preparing for another potential massive Nor'Easter this coming week. The kids acting out of sorts because of the noises from the renovation. The accompanying incessant barking. Usually, I'd be close to losing my shit at this point. But, I'm not.
I'm really not.
Between yesterday and today, I spent a lot of time at my desk. I worked on some blog site updates and such. When I needed a break, I worked on DIY Dog Mom Projects. And, I baked. We also had our favorite humans over for dinner.
Lisa worked on things around the house that needed to be done. She also ran a few errands and helped with the renovations.
At one point, the noise from the renovations upstairs got loud. All of the kids were barking.
Lisa took notice of my calm demeanor.
"If you need to close the door to the home office, that's fine. I don't know how you're managing to get work done with all of the noise, hustle, and bustle."
"I'm good. For real."
She gave me an inquisitive look.
I just shrugged my shoulders.
"It is what it is..."
I was a bit shocked myself.
While sitting at my desk, I thought long and hard about this.
Why am I not losing my shit?
In addition to everything going on now, we also have a few things coming up in the next month or so.
We'll be launching a fundraiser to help raise funds for the Ledyard C.H.A.I.N Raise the Roof Campaign.
On March 31st, we'll be at the Pet Supplies Plus in Groton for another Raise the Roof Campaign fundraiser. Lisa is dressing up as the Easter Bunny. I'll be taking the photos.
Then, on April 14th, we're participating in the Ledyard Animal Control Appreciation Day. We booked a vendor space. The money raised from this event will go to the Raise the Roof fund. These funds will cover the cost of a new roof for the Ledyard Pound.
Still...I'm not losing my shit.
Why?
I thought about this. A lot.
What kept surfacing in my brain were the changes I and we have made over the past 6 months or so.
You can read about that here, here, and here.
More changes have surfaced since.
The responses to these changes have been all over the charts. Most have been supportive. Others have not.
However...
Amid all of this, what has transpired over the past 6 months within our home and personally has been quite remarkable.
Up until today and the past week and a half, neither one of us took full notice of the benefits of making and adhering to those changes.
A year ago, if the past week and a half would have happened, I'd be taking Lisa up on her offer to treat me to a luxury hotel room for a weekend. Just me. Quiet. Spa services. Room service. A hot tub in the bathroom. The works.
Today, my demeanor is standing in the middle of the kitchen. Hands on my hips. The kids circling around me. Barking. Custom orders to make. Over 800 blog columns to go through. Baking to do. Food to cook.
I'm standing there. Exhaling. And I say, "I love our life. I wouldn't trade it for anything or anyone."
Instead of feeling as if I'm about to go off the deep end, I'm quite relaxed.
My perspective on each and every moment is different than it would have been a year ago.
It's hard to explain, but I think I can sum it up in a recent discussion I had with one of my favorite humans.
We had a lunch date recently. It was rather intense. There had been a few painful misunderstandings.
We sat at my table and talked. Really. Really. Talked.
And, cried.
That day, she kind of saved me a little bit.
And, she was willing to dive deep beyond what anyone else, aside from Lisa, knew about me.
She listened. She got it.
And, vice versa.
During the entire time, walls came crashing down.
I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Sophie B. Hawkins, "These walls are high. But I was born to climb. I've got a monkey mind and I will always find the groove."
A few days later, we literally tore walls down.
For me, this was symbolic for so many reasons.
Since then, things have been a lot different. A really great kind of different.
I'm loving that.
With that being said...
When you make changes, great things happen.
When you remove the crap and unnecessary bullshit from your life, great things happen.
When you stop catering to those who keep you in their life because you serve them a purpose and that's it, great things happen.
When you sweep away the sludge, a weight is lifted.
When you tear down walls, figuratively and physically, great things happen.
When you have those painful discussions and share a box of tissues, you find yourself on common ground.
You start trusting those who are genuinely still there.
You look forward to preparing and sharing many meals with your favorite humans.
You go above and beyond because the outside bullshit is no longer weighing you down.
And you no longer give a shit what anyone else thinks about that.
And you know that come hell or high water, you will go above and beyond for your favorite humans.
You will defend them.
And you trust and know they will do the same for you.
With that...
There is also extra time to do the things you want to.
Like making and sharing meals with your favorite humans.
Helping out when needed. And pushing your way through when they're hesitant to ask for help.
Participating in the fundraisers you want to do.
And, so much more.
That's why, today, and for the past week and a half, and to whatever happens in the weeks and months ahead, I will remain calm. Willing. Able. Standing firm on the front line.
I'm in a much better place.
We all are.
Bring. It. on.
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