Waiting for Normal

Life constantly throws me curve balls. I know I’m not the only one. And I hope I’m not the only one who occasionally succumbs to the hopelessness that stems from unexpected illnesses, sudden changes in plans, and a bone-deep weariness that makes everything feel pointless.

I feel like I’m scraping the bottom of the barrel this week.

My old dog wakes us up nearly every night, leaving me sleep-deprived. I feel unable to handle most of the tasks on my to-do list, and because she is sick and probably won’t be with us much longer, I’m indulging in self-pity as well.

Result: nothing is getting done. And I have things to do. Books and quilts and miniatures to finish. Blog posts to write. Meals to cook and laundry to wash. Bills to pay. All The Things, just like everyone else.

I have collected hundreds of quotations on everything from creativity to kindness, wisdom from famous and not-so-famous people across the ages. I skimmed through my quotation file, looking for a flicker of recognition, a thought I could share in a post and respond to sincerely.

Imagine my surprise when I reached the end of the file and found I had quoted myself. What I had to say really resonates with me right now.

If I keep waiting for life to be normal, I’ll be dead before I finish anything.

~ Kit Dunsmore

This morning, I decided I would face the day differently. Yes, I would take breaks and rest, but I would also get up and get moving. I would stop listening to the sad and pitiful me who feels like life is too much and I really shouldn’t have to do any of the Things. Yes, I was tired, but I would get up and get going, anyway.

What a delight to find words from my past self to help cheer present me on. Words that state the problem clearly.

Waiting for normal is a waste of time. There will never be the perfect time to do any of these things I need or want to do. All I have is now.

So today, I’m not waiting. I’m doing.

Are you tempted to wait for things to get back to normal before you begin?