I Did Get Started, Finally

I finally got started on getting the house ready for houseguests, Bunco, Bat Mitzvah and the ability to let someone in if they come to the door. The garage was hard to get going, but once I did, it moved quickly as I consolidated boxes and stuffed them into the closets. You could park a car in there if you needed to, by just moving some stuff aside. And with housecleaners coming next week, the deadline is eminent. I must get some sleep at night, rather than continuing to roll the organizing and cleaning chores over repeatedly in my mind.

Challenges

Life places many challenges at your feet. I try to teach my daughter that the choices we make as we face challenges are what define us, and our ultimate character. When you see someone that has made poor choices, it is hard not to feel sorry for them and try to tell them what they should have done. Resisting temptation, for all sorts of things that are not good for your body or soul, is a huge challenge. Whatever it is --- fear, ego, money, faith, etc. --- that helps people choose their path certainly is different for each person.
One important lesson to teach in parenting (so that your kids will say "no" to the wrong influences) is the whole concept of delayed gratification. A simple method of teaching that was shared at a parenting class -- buy a bottle of your child's favorite beverage. Put it in the fridge on Monday. Tell them they can have it on Friday. That is a simplified way to teach a huge life lesson. The few days in between will not be easy or fun, but life is not fun when you cannot grasp the premise of delayed gratification. (Smoking, drugs and alcohol all provide instant gratification for a teen, and that is the goal of the lesson above.)

Still Trying

I figure if I say this often enough, it will come to pass....
I often think about the best way to prioritize my time, but am not very successful at it. I agree to things I should not; get sidetracked by ridiculous issues and, generally, wander around procrastinating cleaning and organizing. I can see that, in the coming year, I will have more demands on my time than I can handle, as various organizations begin determining their key players for next year. I will have to pick and choose, saying no to some that may ask. I have to leave time to exercise, do some sort of political activity, and to relax. Sometimes I agree to do something creating a stressful day, but, since it is a long way off, assume it will work itself out. Usually, it does not, and I involve my whole family in my stressful situation. But, in contrast, five years ago, I wasn't doing too much at all and I am thankful for my here and now.