Step Away From The Hamster Wheel!

I’d like to say that hours and hours of thoughtful planning go into my blog posts, but we all know none of it’s true!  I wake up, get the kiddo off to school, watch a few cat videos on Facebook, and dive into my day.  On a good day, I jump off the hamster wheel and take a LONG look around to see where I’m going, or where I’ve been.  But in the end, life’s still a hamster wheel!  Most of the stuff I’ve spent years worrying about amounts to NOTHING in the end.

Seriously!  When I’m on my deathbed, am I really going to be thinking, “Shoot!  I never did get caught up on doing all the laundry,” or “I should have cooked more meals to freeze for later… I’m such a failure.”

?????

When I take the time to THINK about the idiotic things that worry me, it boggles my mind!  When I slow down enough to SEE my reality, I have to yell at myself, “Juli!  You’re too smart to act this dumb!”  But we all do it. We all have long romps on our own hamster wheel, mindlessly wobbling along, with an occasional sprinkling of clarity thrown our way to keep life bearable.

We worry about stupid stuff and set impossible standards, like having a house soooo clean, you could eat off the floor.

?????

Ummm…I have plates.  I don’t need to use my kitchen floor as a serving platter.  Plus, I don’t know about you, but using the floor as a plate seems like it would be hard on your lower back.  And knees.  And sticky later on, depending on what you’re serving.  And what about the dog?  Or the cats? They already know they have dibs on any food that falls to the floor.  The fur-babies look forward to our gravitational mishaps, but I’m not prepared to share an entire meal with them!

I’d like to think the hamster wheel phenomenon is an adult thing, but its roots run deep, all the way to my childhood.  Back when I was in elementary school, I remember worrying about my grades or conduct going on my permanent record.  Yeah, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had any employer ask me lately about a certain 3rd-grade assignment that’s still missing in action.  Woops!

I’m not saying that good grades aren’t important.  I’m not saying you should give up cleaning your home.  There will always be bills that need to be paid and daily chores that must be done.  That’s life.  But there has to be some balance to it all.  If you don’t make time for fun, and family, and creativity…what’s the point?  You’re just running in circles.

*A special thanks to Haddon Musings and her Senior Salon #3.  *Waving hi!*  Thank you so much for the invite!!!  I’m not quite ready to ask for my senior discount at Denny’s, but I’ve enjoyed reading all the linky posts!

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