Perspective, Part 2

OK, so with this new desk situation, I've really been thinking a lot about using my rearranging talents to try to look at my life differently, too. It's a challenge, but one I know I'm up to, so here is a second installment of my thoughts on perspective.

After my mom died, and I went to stay with my dad for a few weeks, I remember him saying the most unusual thing. He said that the things my mom did that bothered him when she was alive were the things he missed the most about her after her death. It was kind of an odd thought because I never realized my mom had habits that got on my dad's nerves, but after all, they were both only human! When I asked my dad why he felt this way he said, "Because sometimes the things that bother you the most are the things you notice all the time. And then when they are gone...you realize so is the person you loved so much." I felt so sad for my dad in that moment, because losing my mom was devastating for all of us, but mostly for him.

Lately, my husband and I have been spending more time together than usual, and I have been finding so many reasons to fault him in my mind. The way he never puts his clothes in the hamper; the way he leaves dishes in the sink; the way he gets stains on every single shirt he's wearing; the way he messes up every clean spot in the house! I could go on and on because I'm admittedly wound a bit tight when it comes to my environment! But with this new conviction in my heart to try to look at things a different way, I was reminded of my dad's words about my mom.

If Lou was gone, I know I would miss him terribly, and the fact that my house would likely stay so spotlessly clean would only serve as a huge reminder of the vacancy Lou would leave behind. So maybe if I shift my thinking around a bit, and start celebrating that he is with me, and he is alive and healthy, his messes won't have the same irritation. Maybe I can find a way to be more thankful for the way he moves in my life, instead of finding such great fault with everything he does. Even now, as I write these thoughts, my heart is filled up with a bit more love for Lou and all of his pesky habits, which is a telling sign that a mental shift on this topic could be helpful. Maybe I can rearrange it all in my mind so that when I find one of his messes, I can look at it and smile instead of cringe.

I don't know... It is going to be a pretty big perspective shift for me to take on. I like my world tidy and neat, and Lou is so disruptive to that particular ambition of mine. But in addition to tidy and neat, I like my world with love, and that is what Lou brings to me all of the time: Love.

Well... I shall keep you posted. Perspective, Part 3 should be a good one!

SBZ ;o)