Little boxes everywhere
When I am stressed and have too much on my plate I organize through mental boxes. If my personal and/or emotional life is running heavy and hard and I have a deadline or just a heavy work load I have adopted this strategy that usually works really well for me. I give myself a little pep talk and if I can (carpooling does not fit in a box believe me I tried) I put it in a box for dealing with later. Kind of like a project bag.
Up until now this has proven to be a great tool for me. I either open them later when I have the time and space to deal or the lid pops of and the screaming gets my attention or (and this is my favorite one) I open the box and it is empty. Oh look it just needed a time out to right itself. How nice.
Lately there has been so much so fast and it just keeps coming, that I am a little concerned about the number of boxes accumulating.
A bit overwhelming.
This was vividly brought to my attention last night when my daughter Rabia walked by my desk on her way to the laundry room. She over heard me mutter to myself (we all talk to ourselves-no judging) something like “ just walk away… put it in a box and focus” assuredly accompanied by a few choice words.
I sensed that she had stopped and I looked up. She was watching me and shaking her head. I waited. She easily shares what’s on her mind with me usually only a matter of time. Time I obviously don’t have but hey what’s new?
Finally she said , “ Hey mom it seems that there is a lot of putting “stuff” in boxes lately and I am wondering if maybe you should be marking them. Do you mark them? Seriously how do you know what is what? What if one really should not be next to the other? I think it would be pretty awful if discord among the boxes was added to this mix. Also I am sure some of them are time sensitive right? What if one goes rogue? You love colour you could colour code them. That would work. Oh and by the way, I’m not in there anywhere am I? “
I have to admit for a brief moment after the hysterical laughter subsided I considered her suggestions. She’s a smart, funny young woman and very astute. She has built her own internal coping systems as we all do. So…she has a point .
I do love the colour coding idea.
Mostly though… I have decided that I might need to take a little time this weekend to clean out the closet.
ps Also have considered breaking out my therapist badge and marketing this as a colour coded stress coping system.
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Okay you made this song pop right into my head
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHt_GzOgjvA&feature=fvw
If this were ravelry, I would hit the love button.
That you’re still laughing is a good thing! Go take a break, and a physical and mental deep breath. I like your box idea. Yucky stuff goes in the purple boxes.
is this why you got the pod?
I think there’s a book deal in your future.
Hmm.. should stuff you hate go with colors you love so you maybe hate it a little less?
Take a break and relax! You’ve had a lot going on lately. Pick up some pretty yarn and make something for you!
smart kid! i have always loved those old apothocary drawers! you could whisper (or not) into the drawers and yet visualize at the same time!
OK, you had me ROFLOL on that one! You guys are too funny and I love you!
That is hysterical! Kids are so awesome sometimes (term used loosely about actual age). They ‘get’ you and make you realize you really are connected to one another.
This should help…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQgiqMjysFc
It would be awesome if you could market a color-coding stress coping system. Failing that, do you think you could rent out Rabia?
Funny, how your boxes have come up this time of year..I have a friend, that is compelled to do every things, others wanted..until we went to Egypt..found out, nothing matters except, what you want to do…emailed me later..noting, she no longer had any fears…I had to laugh..my secret weapon is laughter…lots of it.. So, Throw out all those boxes and light a fire..let them burn..
Take each moment as it comes, enjoy it to the fullest..with laughter..You’ll be surprised how many things go away…The unnecessary burden,, tire you out…Life is too short for that…
Wouldn’t marketing the organization idea just add a whole ‘nother set of colored boxes to your pile? Just sayin’!
How about delegation?
What a timely post. I tried putting on my moth-eaten superwoman suit this week when the pressure peaked. It never works. I always get my cape tucked in the back of my tights. I like the idea of boxes. Nice, colorful boxes.
Too many boxes might make your brain explode. Good thing they’re small boxes even if the ideas, problems, tasks, to-do-lists are large ones. I think you must have a Tardis brain. Off to knit more socks. Have to catch up on club kits.
There’s a green one and a pink one and a blue one and a yellow one…
I like your system and I love the color-coding idea. Mine goes something like this, “Can I do anything about it right now? No. Can I do anything about it later today? No. How about tomorrow or later this week? Yes? Then I’ll deal with it then.” Works for me and I can get to sleep at night. And yeah, I do the talking to myself thing, too. Or talking to the housebun–he’s an excellent listener.
hey…love the whole “colour” coding thing…(It’s done SO much for national security!!!)
but have to advocate for purple…no relegating yucky stuff to purple….purple totally rocks….she is my total fave ….along with magenta and green and blue….so pick another colour for the yucky box….grey? (nope…the colour of wet sand, as in the beach)….orange maybe? (sorry orange, I do love orange, but someone has to step up and be the scapegoat..
{{{Tina}}} and even bigger {{{Rabia}}} for making your mom laugh when she needed it most! I love how my kids have a knack for brightening my life when it seems like the boxes are going to take a tumble. The other day I was stifling a cry and my youngest daughter, Katie, told me I had to cry sometimes or my eyes would get dry. A few tears escaped, but laughter ensued and all seemed much more right in my world. You are a fortunate woman, Tina!
Ann wrote:
maybe? (sorry orange, I do love orange, but someone has to step up and be the scapegoat..
Ann don’t you mean “scapefruit?”
Sorry couldn’t resist…
Tina, your daughter has a gift…her words are priceless and I hope that she doesn’t mind if I take them to heart also? I have been under a lot of stress lately and have tried tossing my stress out into the snow, but it just collects on the deck and sneaks back in with the dog when I am not looking. Maybe its time to retire? LOL that would give me more time for knitting.
To get rid of stress today at work I patted my sock yarn…It is so beautiful..you are a genius and then some. Don’t let those box lids catch your fingers.
a box with polka dots! socks in a box! This could be a whole new direction!
This should help the laughter quotient! It’s about men’s brains and women’s brains – but you don’t quite fit the model :>
I love it! She’s a good one. Just like her mom.