(Yep, that's Sophie in a Disney Princess bed. Don't ask!)
I wish I could be more like that. The subtle shifts affect me lately, like knowing basketball season is almost over while baseball and track will be starting up. Petty details prick the recesses of my mind.
I'll have to buy spring clothes for the kids soon. Don't forget baseball cleats. And new socks. Wow, what do the kids do, gnaw holes in each one? I could always wait until Easter. What are we doing for Easter? I should shop for Easter baskets. But first, there's a birthday coming up. Do I have a birthday card? Wait, this weekend...basketball tournaments. Do we have Gatorade? Would it be wrong to bring a book to read? Speaking of books...
My brain jumps from one thing to another. It's my own personal March Madness. Emphasis on madness.
Thankfully, I'm addicted to magazines and caught this wonderful article in Woman's Day by Heather Lende "Real Life: Clearing Mental Clutter." I could relate to everything she described (except living in Alaska). Hope and happiness bubbled up. I'm not crazy. I'm not alone. And I will get over this in a few weeks. Life will return to normal, I will buy socks, and I'll try not to eat all of the Cadbury Mini-Eggs I buy for the Easter baskets.
Do you ever find your mind skipping through random future chores? Does it drive you crazy? And please, if you know when spring will come, please tell me!
Come back on Wednesday for a new feature: Five Easy Questions with...
Every Wednesday I'll ask a writer the same five questions. I hope you'll stop by and learn how my fabulous critique partner, Wendy P. Miller answers!
Have a marvelous Monday!
With the coming of spring sports and warmer weather I go through that too! Mouth guards, Lacrosse sticks, helmets, shoes, clothes - it can get crazy.
ReplyDeletethat's my mind every day and I don't even have kids! lol
ReplyDeleteJill, Sounds to me like your mind works like the average wife, mother, aspiring writer. It was like a glimpse into my own!
ReplyDeleteRest assured Spring is in the air (Even though I wanted to scream Saturday night when the rain turned to snow outside my window.) Soon the kids will be out of school and life will present a whole new set of challenges.
Yes! I make lists of everything that is stressing me out. I never go back and look at them, but somehow it helps my mind let go of them if I write them down.
ReplyDeleteGood morning!
ReplyDeleteLaura: It's hard keeping track of the equipment, uniforms, and practice schedules. I'm SO glad I'm not alone!
Jessica B: Ha Ha! I know. Maybe it's a writer thing? Or a woman thing? Who knows!
Constance: It's ridiculous! I wish my brain had an "off" button sometimes. Thanks for understanding!
Julie: Lists work wonders for calming me down. I love that you only need to write the list, not check everything off it to feel better!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sometimes, I feel like "I'm in the dance band on the Titanic" - Harry Chapin. All you can do is keep playing. And Spring? Meteorological Spring was 1. March. The Vernal Equinox by Earth's rotation is 21. March. But I go by 1. May. Here in Boston, early Spring is still like Winter, less snow but cold and wet. 54 days until 1. May.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read fabulous Wendy's answers (sorry...feelin' punchy). :D
ReplyDeleteMarch is crazy here, too. Gearing up to start coaching soccer on top of everything else.
~ Wendy
I hear you! Sometimes it feels nigh impossible to clear the head. I usually use a book or show to distract me long enough to focus. Maybe Yoga could help too. I need to get back to that. Heh, so much for clearing the head.
ReplyDeleteYes, my mind absolutely works that way. I am so jealous of my husband who can lie down at night and just turn his brain off. Meanwhile I am contemplating the next morning and the things I should have done to prepare and everything else under the sun.
ReplyDeleteAs hard as it is, I know I need to attempt to turn off this mental craziness as much as I can. It's hard to enjoy the moment when our brains are in overdrive all the time.
To-Do lists, it's the only way for me :)
ReplyDeleteSophie looks satisfied with life. maybe I should get me a Disney Princess bed to lounge in.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I live (too much of) my life in the near-future. My mind is always racing with the questions only the future will answer. And when those questions get answered, others crop up. Ugh. Not a good cycle. Reeling my mind back in (taking deep breaths, too) is the only way to Stop. The. Madness.
ReplyDeleteYeah, seriously, I'd like one of those beds, too! Don't dogs have so much to teach us? (Like unconditional love? And yeah, I know they don't have a whole lot of responsibilities. If they get up and bark a few times when people walk by, they've pretty done their job for the day. But still, I like the way they live in the moment.) With my kids all grown, recurring health issues are more my Seasonal Punch. We all have something that just loves to throw us off track. Yesterday while poking through tabbed pages in my Bible, I spotted these highlighted verses and left it opened to that spot on my dresser overnight- Isaiah 26:3+4. Knowing some issues needed my immediate attention this morning, this was the perfect thing to read. (Think I'll leave it there on the dresser for a few more days.) Now it's back to work. See you Wednesday, Jill!
ReplyDeleteIt seems like my mind is busy all the time. Once it fills up, I have to write down all those future chores and ideas on a TO DO list and then I can forget them and start building up new ones. Oh well, I like keeping busy, so it works!
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone, Jill. It's the change of season. Spring fever! My mind's hard drive is over loaded. I sit amazed at what I think about sometimes...and how quickly it shifts. I think I need to sit down and do some deleting.
ReplyDeleteYes! Once I turned the calendar to March, I couldn't believe it. Spring would soon be here. So I started going drawer by drawer taking out clothes that don't fit my kids anymore! I'm only 1/4 done. My to do list has definitely gotten longer!!
ReplyDeleteYour dog is so darn cute, btw!
ReplyDeleteI think as women we try to multi task too much. A lot of the time I just run from one fire to the next just to keep up. Can't wait for your 5 questions. :O)
ReplyDeleteCJ: Ahh, you're giving me hope!
ReplyDeleteWendy M: I can't wait to see what that Wendy Miller says, either! :) And coaching soccer, huh? Good luck with that!
P.W.: Yoga--yes! Great idea! Yoga always calms me.
Maggie: I hear you! Oh, to turn it off. It's not good!
Joanne: You're right. I know you're right. I need to get that paper and pen out!
Travis: She is content. A Disney bed would do you good!
Patrice: I'm the same way right now. Soooo ready for my brain to stop!
Patti M: Yes! Sophie is happy as long as she's in the same room with us. So much to learn from sweet little dogs!
Cindy: Ha! I know--the pile of to-do lists, right? :)
Loree: Me too. Deleting is a good thing!
Kelly: That is such a job. I dread it every season! Good luck!
Diane: I'm definitely jumping from fire to fire lately. You're right--way too much multi-tasking!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Love the 5 Easy Questions ... idea!! :) looking forward to Wendy's answers :)
ReplyDeleteOh yeah! Doesn't it seem like to-do lists never leave our minds?! Especially for the busy woman... It IS madness! I am looking forward to reading the article you referenced! De-cluttering is always a positive thing!
ReplyDeleteWhen my mind is filled with all the things vying for my attention, I'm another who resorts to lists. Knowing that the tasks are listed and won't be forgotten frees my mind and helps restore a modicum of peace.
ReplyDeleteI'm eager for the debut of your 5 Easy Questions posts with the wonderful Wendy Miller.
I had a doxie when I was growing up. I loved my pudgy fellow. He was my most loyal friend during my tumultuous teens.
**groan** Sounds like me every night before bed. I need about 20 minutes of bible-reading time to settle my brain and force myself to relax so that I can sleep. Otherwise, the constant stream of thoughts will scream at me for the next 2 hours while I lie there and listen to my husband's rhythmic, peaceful breathing. Figures. lol
ReplyDeleteP.S. Your dog is so cute. My husband had a mini-doxie growing up. :)
Welcome to my world, girl! I still believe deep down inside that life gets easier with each passing day but my to-do list just keeps getting longer without my permission. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteLike Julie, writing things down helps me calm my brain. Otherwise, sometimes I feel like I can't get a hold on everything that I have to do.
ReplyDeleteYeah--so me. With 3 young kids, writing, and moving in my near future, I'm surprised my head doesn't implode. I'm always thinking ahead and making plans. That's why I'm a list maker, I'm always afraid I'll forget something as my mind flits from one thought to the next so quickly.
ReplyDeleteWhoa - LOVE the new idea for WEdnesdays and can't wait to hear Wendy's answers. Love that woman.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever want to ask me the q's, I'd be more than happy to participate. It sounds fun! Even though I have no idea what the questions are at this point!
Dogs are so carefree:) My mind is pretty constant when it comes to working overtime. The gears are spinning even when I will them to stop.
ReplyDeleteI'm learning that a great deal of this is anxiety. And that is not what God is calling me to endure at all, I can cast that at His feet.
Spring is here in Florida:)
ReplyDeleteYes I think about future chores--like getting the lawn looking better etc.:) Yours sound more fun.
I have January-December madness. I laughed at how your mind jumped. Very funny!
ReplyDeleteJill, all that means is you have a female brain. We did a Sunday School study on the physical/biological differences between men and women. Women's brains are like baskets of yarn with every thought tangled in with every other thought. A man's brain is like a warehouse of boxes with no thought box touching any other thought box. That's why they don't understand how emptying the dishwasher is related to romance.
ReplyDeleteJaime: Oh good! I'm planning on making it a regular Wednesday feature if it's received well!
ReplyDeleteAngela C: I sometimes want to grab trash bags and toss everything! But that wouldn't help the sports' schedule. :)
Keli: Doxies are so sweet! Sophie is taking down the b-day decorations I just put up. If I could train her to do it AFTER the party...
Lindsay: Ha! "Snoring peacefully..." So funny! And yeah, we love Sophie. She's been a great addition to our family.
Tana: Yes! Good assessment! It matches my theory about children--your love grows with each one but your patience shrinks!
Lauren: I have about fifty little notepads around the house. Writing it down DOES help!
Ralene: My head might implode too. We need a coffee date!
Katie: She's pretty awesome! And good, cuz you're already on my list! :)
Tamika: I agree. When my thoughts get out of control, it's usually anxiety--and God can handle that.
Terri: Yeah, getting our lawn green may be impossible. Good luck!
Jessica P: Ha! I think I have that too. Do you have a cure? :)
Sarah T: Whew! This makes me feel better. I can handle yarn in the brain as long as it gets knitted at some point. Dishwashing does equal romance. :)
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Sarah T., I have heard the same thing but the analogy used was "spaghetti brain" vs. "waffle brain." lol
ReplyDeleteI really SHOULD write things down more often. When I do, it's easier to get things done.
ReplyDeleteLindsay: Spaghetti brain--love it!
ReplyDeleteGina: I hear you! Writing them down seems to take the edge off, too!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
My mind has been doing that a lot lately with the upcoming move and projects we're doing with the house. I can barely get to sleep at night because my brain is moving so fast!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Your description of yourself, described me to a 'T,' minus the cleats. I can manage and almost eliminate the brain chatter when I prioritize my things to do, write them down, and avoid things I know will sidetrack me.
ReplyDeleteFlowering trees are in bloom here in GA - I'm sure your weather will turn spring-like in the next couple weeks! :)
Uh, yeah! I feel like I have the ultimate case of ADD sometimes because my mind is always skipping around. Also, I've decided that I've become a complete ditz in "real life" because my brain is always at least partially occupied with whatever I'm writing.
ReplyDeleteMelissa: A new house! How exciting! My mind would be skippidy-do-dahing too!
ReplyDeleteMaria: Blooming trees...nice! I'm looking forward to the sight.
Lisa G: Me too! I can barely put together a coherent sentence lately!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Whether it's tangled yarn or spaghetti brain, ladies, you have validated my head. (Ahh, God made me this way.) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI thank you for that article, even though I have not read it yet. But I will. I'm in jumping mode right now and want to wait until my brain settles a bit. But I so understand what you're describing. Not only the day to day, but throw a major holiday in there and I really go bonkers. Definitely need some down time, and an elf. I mean, leprechaun.
ReplyDeleteYes, there's a bit of March Madness here, but then there's always something bouncing about in my brain. Hoping this spring finds less bouncing and more balance!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Karen
Patti: Oh good, another knitter in the brain! :)
ReplyDeleteJudith: Jumping in, settling down. It's all an ebb and flow isn't it? If you can find a Leprechaun who will run my errands, I'll be eternally grateful!
Karen L: I want that too. Less bouncing, more balance!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Ha... your little para on where your mind wanders sounds EXACTLY like something I would think... my mind skips around like crazy!! And, spring has already come in Texas... it was in the 80s today! :) Can't wait to read Wendy's answers tomorrow... I adore her!
ReplyDeleteMarch Madness? Ha, my brain does that 12/365! Ooo, can't wait for the 5 questions tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteAw..what a cutie pie! We had one that looks just like her named Baby. I can't remember a time when my brain wasn't skipping around. You mean this isn't normal? LOL Life sure would be easier not to mention more organzied! :) Great post!
ReplyDeleteHi Jill -
ReplyDeleteJust when I think I have everything in order, something happens to upset the balance. To-do lists keep me sane. I couldn't possibly remember all the tasks without them.
Blessings,
Susan :)