Confessions of a reforming perfectionist
Black, white; all, nothing; elation, depression; 100%, 0% – that is me when I’m not doing what I need to do to stay sane.
Throughout my life I was digital – 1 or 0, on or off, no analog dial of the grey gradual or via media. High or low, no middle. Perish the average.
If I couldn’t master something I’d quit it, claiming boredom or irrelevance. Really I was scared out of my shoes to work. In school I didn’t have to work until my doctoral course work. Didn’t fail a test until my German language proficiency exam – I still loathe German with a passion. (My father’s fault for correcting me as a child in German – that’s my story and I’m sticking to it).
What really brought my insane digital thinking to the forefront was my housework. If the house didn’t sparkle; it stank. Excuses made, piles buried in back closets, feet stuck to the kitchen floor. Or everything gone and if it wasn’t nailed down it was dusted, washed and scrubbed until it glowed. Then a friend suggested, very nicely I thought, that I check out Flylady www.flylady.net. There I learned how to break chores down. Change my attitude. Do house work for me to smile not to impress or please anyone else. Do I always do the Flylady emails? No. But is my house a sty? Never. Does I hug me when I come home? Usually. I found grey in my life – who knew? It’s a dust rag!
Stephanie Jarkins
twitter: skjarkins
5 Comments
Hmm. I’ll have to check out flylady. I used to be a neatnick until I got married. Men are pigs. I used to dust everything. Now I have better things to do. I think I need a maid.
I love that website and it all seems so easy. I just need to do what she suggests. I feel you!
Thanks for the good words! It is easy, as you say – just have to do it! So true of many other things too!
Um, so not me. When i was a kid i couldn’t have so much as a sock on the floor. Now i’m 39 and can’t find my bedroom floor for clothes. It’s awesome and i love it. But…not a great role model for miniman, sigh…. i’m going to miss my filthy house. ;P
I used to be the same way. But not so much any more. My problem is clutter that turns into scenery and I don’t notice it any more. Thanks for the comment Tammy. I’ll get back to blogging soon! Happy New Year!