Attitude Adjustment

(Not sure why my caption isn’t showing, but photo credit goes to flattop341 at Flickr.com.)

I’ve been feeling a bit uninspired lately.

Projects, cleaning, everything I need to do just hasn’t seemed all that…well…interesting. What gives? I’ve been thinking about what some of the reasons for this bad attitude might be. I’m hoping that writing about it will make it go away.

This is the longest we have ever lived in a house, and it is no fun to re-do the old.

In twelve years of marriage, we moved five times. From condo to new house to really old house to new house to beautiful new-ish house to this house. There was always something new to plan for and to paint. Now, after living in one house for 10 years, everything just seems a little boring. (Not talking people, here. Only the house!) We need to re-paint, re-carpet, add hardwood, re-do, and just generally make something new out of something that is really lived-in. It’s a little overwhelming. It’s also difficult to imagine possibilities after having some things the same way for this long.

Life is busy.

This is not exactly news to anyone. Whether you are married or single or have children or not, life gets filled with carpooling, school, work, church, volunteering, cooking, reading, sewing, learning new things–you get the idea. It’s difficult to think about painting that ceiling after a long day doing other stuff. And the thought of undertaking a big project is way too enormous to try to fit into this busy schedule!

Money is tight.

Have you ever thought about how nice it would be to do a house project without giving a single whoop-ti-do about money? I have. In my heart, I know that money does not buy one ounce of happiness. I see too many people around me who seem to have the dough but are really pretty miserable. Still, I can’t help but think how fun it would be to redecorate a bathroom or living room without even considering cost. Wouldn’t it be amazing to pick the flooring you want without having to price shop and try to figure out if you and your spouse could suffer through sore knees, but just buy it and schedule the installation? Hey, I can dream, can’t I?

I don’t know where to start.

Recently, my parents moved from what was once a beautiful home to a beautiful, much-smaller-but-safer-and-easier condo. My siblings and I have cleaned out the old house and got it ready for sale. We knew there were some problems. The reality of the problems became evident as the prospective buyers came through the house. There were too many projects that the house needed. Deferred maintenance really came back to bite my truly wonderful parents. Instead of doing a little bit along the way, they just kind of let it all build up. They got tired and busy and found other things (children and grand children) to spend their money on. Then, when they had time and money (a little bit, anyway), it was overwhelming for them to start. So, they didn’t!

One thing always leads to another.

You know how this works, right? You fix the small hole in the ceiling with spackle, but the spackle is a slightly different color. You do not have any paint left from painting the ceiling five years ago, so you have to go buy two gallons and paint the whole darn thing. The new paint makes the walls seem dingy, but before you can paint the room, what about opening up that doorway a little to add some much needed height and openness? Oh. Then, the carpet either needs to be replaced or you can go ahead and lay the hardwood that would really give you the sense of openness you want…Ugh. It is a never-ending journey.

Sometimes you can’t change your situation. All you can do is change the way you think about it.

Here, we call that an Attitude Adjustment. We also call it a kick in the pants. Our thinking needs to move from victim to victor. From wimpy, whiny poor me to strong, glass-half-full I can. Caution:  Don’t ask your family to help you adjust your attitude. They will be too eager to comply, and you might not like the literal way they interpret things. Don’t even tell them you are changing your thinking. Just do it. (Thank you, Nike.) And do not let any negative talk (from them or you) get into your head. You have the power to do this, and if you are determined, no one can diminish that resolve.

Try spinning the negative reasons above, and see where your attitude ends up!

We have lived here a long time, but I am happy about that. We are building wonderful memories! Plus, now I know to plan on buying a new sump pump in three years because I know when the current one was installed. Knowledge is a good thing.

Life is busy, but it will not always be this way. Find the joy in every stage of life. It is there for the taking. The interesting thing about finding joy is that the more you take (or find), the more you can actually give. It is truly a contagious attitude!

Money is tight. Well, duh. Even if you have a healthy income, you probably still try to find good deals and be a good steward with what you have. Try to see it as a challenge. Homes can be beautiful on a shoestring budget. I once knew a woman who bought practically everything at the flea market or at yard sales.  Her home could have been featured in a magazine! The key is to budget for decorating and save up for the “stuff” you want.

Where to start? There is no easy answer here. Try making a list of what you want to do to your home. Then, prioritize the list. Then, just do something. Anything. It will give you that warm, fuzzy, glowy feeling to get started on something. Don’t forget to put some small items on your list for quick accomplishments! These are Baby Steps in home decorating. Achieving success on a small thing make bigger tasks seem more possible.

One thing leads to another. Again, duh. Suck it up, put on your big-girl panties, and move on. This is life. Your home is real, is biodegradable, and needs a little TLC. Every little thing counts, and you will pick up momentum as you roll along. You have the power to accomplish, to do, to cozy things up. Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there and do it. Oh, and who cares if you have to do things in stages? It will be worth the wait. Trust me.

Consider your pants kicked. Consider your attitude adjusted. Just take the first step. You will be surprised at how far it takes you.