It’s been one of those swirly weeks, where I’m not sure which pairs of socks are clean and I don’t know which moving box has my favorite dinner plate in it, and I’m not entirely sure I have the right paperwork to take to the water board (because there is a water board) to ask nicely to pay for water and a trash can. Also, my accountant called and talked at me all slow and careful because it’s THAT time of year. And, I just started watching the show Survivor because 2016 seemed like as fine a time as any to get into that show for pure distraction and procrastination purposes.
It’s one of those weeks where inspiration is present but dang elusive and tasks are heavy and endless. I have a tendency to be hard on myself (about the silly television watching for starters), and while being hard on myself can sometimes serve as a motivator… more often than not it a negative pot to simmer in.
In these times of self-bumming I try my best to have patience with myself, see clearly what needs to be done, motivate myself with chocolate, and remind myself of all of the things I know how to do instead of focusing on all of the things I’m still trying to figure out.
Let’s remind ourselves of all of the adulting we do with moderate to great levels of success. It’s a momentary pat on the back and then we’ll get back to not-procrastinating… cool?
All The Things We Know, A Short List:
- We know how to pay our bills and turn the faucet off while we brush our teeth. Not related.
- We know how to apologize when we hurt someone and make cinnamon rolls (also when we hurt someone) (or want cinnamon rolls).
- We know how to communicate our feelings with reason and sanity and sometimes with pent-up yelling (the former being preferable).
- We know how to get our hair done and buy new shoes when times get serious (internally mentally serious).
- We know when to soothe ourselves with tater tots and when to soothe ourselves with yoga.
- We know when to call instead of text, and when to show up instead of call. It’s care. Also: bring either pie, doughnuts or wine.
- We know how to pet a cat, talk to a baby, hold a baby without looking freaked out externally, and make a bologna sandwich. Not at the same time. It’s hard to hold a baby, look not freaked out, and do anything else.
- We know how to hustle hard with kindness for ourselves and others. This is our reminder.
Considering all of the adulting we tackle everyday, in all of our relationships,there’s not much we can’t do (besides breathe underwater). Let’s look at our to-do list with fresh eyes and high-fives.
55 Responses
I love your blog posts! Thanks for your thoughtful writing :)
I too only recently became obsessed with Survivor – it’s addictive!
I really enjoyed reading this.
https://www.99percentlifestyle.com/
Love this post! :) It’s so refreshing to read something like this..I will be coming back to visit you beautiful blog for sure!
AGNESE from http://www.theblogness.com
Joy – One of my favorite lyrics from a song is “I’m still learning things I thought I’d know by now.” I’m 48 and it’s so true!
Word. Word up.
you are full of good words, thank you Joy!
Hope your next week is easy and lighthearted. That is a very short list of the things you know how to do, you could fill a book with your talents and charms. xo
Hi Joy,
Thanks for the uplifting words. Some days are just tough but we just have to chug along and keep going. As a relatively new person to the solo adulting world, I hate the days when I have to the boring stuff or when I don’t know what the heck I am doing. Thanks for reminding me that I’m not the only one and that it’s okay to not know what you are doing. Hope the move is going well! Snapchat may say otherwise though ;)
Kara
Thank you for your vulnerability and always being a source of inspiration! Adulting gets so real sometimes and it can be the worst. I’m glad you shared this here. You got this!
This post is a such a honest and straight forward article. Self-motivation is a very essential quality that is to be developed by each individual.
Often when I’m feeling down, or stuck in a funk, I come here and bury myself in your site for a while. This evening was one of those times, and I’m so happy to have stumbled upon this post. ty
Thanks for the reminder to slow down and let it flow. (We all need this reality check.) And by the way, you got this moving in and reworking your life thing.
Your short list is spot on. I can so relate to it. Love your blog and food. Hope your enjoying your new digs.
This made me smile. Just what I needed at the end of a long week :-)
Sometimes tater tots, sometime wine and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (like now!). Great, post, perfect for tonight. Thanks.
Joy, this is exactly what I needed right now. Thank you.
Love your writing! I’m confident you’ll make it! You are awesome Joy
YES. Thanks you Joy :)
Soooooo with you. I got a crap ton of work done this week, but it was only in 1 area. Everything else went neglected. I’m always making trade-offs, never getting absolutely everything done.
xo
Beautiful. Adulting is hard. And all those adults I looked up to when I was younger? I’ve realized they don’t have it all together as much as I thought. We’re all trying to figure stuff out, some just have a little more experience in some areas. I’m still learning how to deal with my anxiety, because when I get overwhelmed and my to-do list gets too long, I shut down. Gotta step away, do some breathing exercises, get out in nature, listen to a good song, and then move on.
My husband works for the California Water Board. And in New Orleans, I am certain their job is ten thousand times as awful as California’s. Because you have waaay more water. Love your Water Board–they make the stuff coming out of your faucet drinkable. Seriously, big Mazel Tov on the house. I promise the craziness calms down. I hope Tron is coping, too.
This post is great – I think we all need a reminder to not always focus on the things we can’t do or haven’t checked off from the to-do list and instead take stock of what we can do. I enjoy reading about your thought process and seeing your words of encouragement.
Breathe, but dont hyperventilate, dear girl. I look at unpacking as opening gifts at a time other than my birthday or Christmas. I open one, oh, there’s my little gold grape cluster. Oh, this is my cuisinart, oh, there are my fishnet hose (not all in the same box, of course!!!!) Have some fun. Hope all gets easier.
**fist bump** I feel ya girl.
We also know that when we need a short, positive, silly distraction in our lives, emergency compliment (https://emergencycompliment.com/) is the best life preserver.
Ahhhhh…this was so needed today. Thanks, Joy!
I needed this today, thank you! Well said (er…written).
I love this, Joy! These adulting growing pains are tough and you always have such a funny and inspiring way of writing. Your “Let It Be Sunday” posts are the bees knees, too. Keep it up and good luck with the new house!
Joy. I have a feeling I don’t have to encourage you to be on #TeamAubry (yes, I wen to high school with a Survivor contestant!), but just in case you were still deciding who has your heart – it’s Aubry all the way.
On another note – thank you for this. It’s been a funky week and I needed a reminder that adulting is hard. <3
“We know how to hustle hard with kindness for ourselves and others.” Thanks for the reminder!
Love this. Yours was one of the first blogs I started reading and is still one of my favorites. Love both of your cookbooks and am looking forward to your brunch book!
High-five, Joy!!!! We adulted-the-hell out of this week! Add to that list: knowing how to high-five without missing. (Look at their elbow. I don’t know why, but it works for me.) Happy Friday!
Lovely!
Adulting IS hard, girlfriend. The accountant and the water board in the same week? I couldn’t. Last weekendI didn’t have the title signed correctly for my car, and I couldn’t make myself go back to the County Clerk’s office, I made my husband go. It’s not like I sat around and ate cinnamon rolls either, I then took our 2 year old to the grocery store. ALL THE ADULT THINGS.
Excellent! Just what I didn’t know I needed to hear, today. Thank you!
Virtual Hugs to you!
Adulting is hard as hell sometimes- but even when you just get through the list of things you know how to do, it can be pretty satisfying too. Sending love from Seattle :) XO, Heather
Ha! Totally love this. It’s a good reminder that we feel better when we look at what we can do on the days when so much seems impossible.
I love your honesty here, Joy. I can definitely relate.
I love this, Joy! Love your real talk. We all need to hear it, too.
Joy- I, too, often make ‘things I CAN do” lists—much the same way other people plan parties. Thanks for taking a time out in the middle of your own stress to remind us all we’re never totally helpless!
when I feel it is is all dumping on me I go outside and look for one of the miracles that Nature has provided on that day – it might be a new shoot on a tree/plant, a flower bud beginning or starting to open, a cloud formation, whatever !
the looking around and the smile that transforms on your face when you find “it” makes the funk you thought you were in disappear leaving you with new enthusiasm :)
Works for me, hope it also works for others and costs absolutely nada to try it
enjoy
Love this, thanks for writing – I always look forward to your blogs!
When we were young and Dad got sick, lost his job and if I’m counting correctly, we moved fifteen times in ten years. Mom got so used to it she would pack two boxes with the essentials and mark them (way before the survivor show) the survivor kit. The basics were in there to get us through the first four nights. By then with four girls in tow and a husband who kept yelling “where did you put my stuff” the boxes were a godsend.
Spring is also a time when everyone seems to think I have to get this done NOW. Everyone on the blog is right take a deep breath, your not going anywhere right? I think when I take my time, I think slowly that is when the creativity flows. Spring is a time for me when the flowers within start to grow, slowly the blooms within open and my ideas take root and blossom. Can’t wait when your all settled to see the wonderful ideas that are going to blossom from within. Have a wonderful spring and a wonderful week. Paulette
I mostly sooth myself with tater tots. Ooops!
Don’t do what I did when I bought and moved into my house 7 years ago…I moved in the last week of June and offered to host the 4th of July family celebration at my house the following week. I’m still trying to recover from that madness. Unpacking and setting up an entire house in one week was insanity. lol
Enjoy this time in your life and don’t beat yourself up! You’ve got this! :)
Take a deep breath, girlfriend! Then take another, and another, and… ahhh, that’s better ;-)
You will get through it all eventually, and if something goes wrong, then you’ll be able to handle that, too. And the silly television watching has its place in the grand scheme of things, so don’t beat yourself up for it!
One box at a time, and eventually, it will all be in place and you will be settled in to your new digs . . .
Cheers, Michelle G, Belper, UK
Yes! I make myself “Did” lists sometimes when it’s all too over-whelming & scary. Love your list. The “call instead of text” one is key; total sign of graceful adulting!
Thank you, Joy! Sometimes adulting successes are simpler than we make them out to be. Reminders are good. Your blog is good. (One of the very few emails I actually open.) Happy moving!
Adulting! Love it when a noun can transform into a verb. Moving is hard but gives you a chance to re-create who you are. Good luck.
This is so true! I love all of your posts!
Thank you for this. Much love and best of luck in your new home!
Joy– I just moved too. It has been great fun for me to read about your adventures as I set up my own kitchen. Best of luck in your new home????
What a beautiful writer you are Joy; you share with honesty, compassion and yes … Joy! Thank you. x.
You rock, Joy! Love this post (and all your posts for that matter). Your fun personality jumps off the pages with every single thing you right. I’m always rushing to open your new posts when they fill my in box! Take the time to get settled and be content with all the adult-ing you know how to do! I can’t wait to see your new posts that come from new inspiration and your new home!
Sending love, Jess
Keep it up! You’re gonna make it!