This weekend didn't go as planned. At all. I realize I'm hypersensitive to things not going as planned because we're heading into the week of the graduation party we're hosting and Our Big Bodacious Painting Project that will follow and last for over a week. I know this. But. Sometimes. Well.
So, without further ado, here are 10 lessons I learned this weekend.
1. Painting wood lattice sucks. It always has. It always will. Despite my attempts to make it fun, I haven't gotten there yet. I don't think I ever will.
2. Sometimes, chills, aches, and the car-sicky feeling isn't the start of the flu. It simply means you need to take a couple of ibuprofen and rest for a few hours. Because that's what happened to me. I'm slightly concerned because this usually means I'm in the process of getting something much bigger and more debilitating.
3. Patience, Lisa (as in me). Patience. Lisa's schedule is busy and crazy just like mine. Just because something has been written on the large dry erase board in the kitchen for a month doesn't mean it'll get done in a reasonable amount of time.
4. The furry kids are sensitive to change, stress, and upcoming events. I know this inside and out. But, as hard as we try to keep things as normal as possible, they just know.
5. Not everyone was raised like Lisa and me. I know this much is true, but I struggle with finding that balance between understanding and accepting this and trying to justify, in the form of excuses, why people do what they do. Or, don't do things they should. Or not following through. There is a fine line between not knowing and being lazy and ignorant.
6. Set a proverbial timer. When Lisa and I get caught up with projects, whether indoors or outdoors, or my desk work is blowing through the ceiling, we lose track of time. Last Sunday and today, Lisa had to work. That meant we had to alter our schedule. For the last 2 Fridays, we had to get stuff done around the house that we normally get done on Saturday. With each Friday, we had to pick a time to be done. If not, we would have found ourselves working until late at night.
7. Take notice. This applies to pretty much everything. As the saying goes, "Keep it simple. Respect my time. Match my efforts. Keep your word. Always be honest. Follow through. Stay consistent."
8. Always extend random acts of kindness. It doesn't matter how busy, stressed, tired, or overworked you are. Notice the people around you especially the ones closest to you. Do something kind. Surprise them with a meal or platter of baked goods or a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine. Often times, after a stressful day at work, Lisa stops for an iced coffee on the way home. She usually pays for the person behind her. It makes her day a little better. Those just because random acts of kindness go a long way on both ends.
9. Take time to be in the moment. We had a lot of work to do this weekend. Lisa had to work on Sunday. That didn't leave us a lot of time. Not everything got done, but that didn't stop us from taking the time to socialize with our neighbor friends, sip a cold beverage on the porch while watching the birds at our feeders, and treating our friend to a grilled dinner that Lisa made.
10. Throw yourself down on the floor. When life gets a little too loud or when people get too stupid or ignorant, throw yourself down on the floor. The kids will love you for it. They'll jump on you. Get on your back. Drop a fetch ball in front of your face. Give you juicy kisses. That's the best therapy ever.
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