The sun is shining so brightly this morning and it is just in time, too. Yesterday I was focused on escaping the darkness and today…blessed with so much light…I think of all that I can accomplish. Taking the last tepid sip of my coffee, I look to the windows, intent to see the light filtering through the bare limbs of the sleepy trees…and what do I see?  What is my focus?  A split second ago I was feeling that my day was just beginning…and now??? My only thought was, How!!! How did my windows get this dirty??? And an even greater question…why didn’t I notice it before?  It’s a wonder I can see any tree at all.  Note to self: call to get the windows cleaned…I can’t reach those windows…thank goodness. I don’t have the time to clean them!!! Now I have to stop and get this done…and I still have to make my bed. What time is it!???

See how quickly I can create a negative mood for myself??? In the blink of an eye I went from feeling that all things were possible to feeling more than mildly perturbed about how dingy and dirty my windows look…and rightfully so, too. They’ve been beaten by leaves and wind, frost and snow from the outside and there has been an endless offering from the inside, too. The fireplace, the bird, the kitchen….who knows what…but now I sit at the crossroads.

Right here and right now…this is where the old me and the new me have a little talk. I felt my heart rate increasing and my stress level going up a notch. The old me screams that I just don’t have the time to deal with this…I’ll have to take everything out of the way of the windows, all of the furniture… and I’ll have to take all of the stained glass off of the windows…It’s going to take me hours!!! And the money!!! It’s so expensive!!! And I talk myself into joining in the misery of just THINKING about getting the windows cleaned.

And then…thankfully, the new, older and wiser me, clears my throat and gently interrupts…talking just loudly enough to be heard…but not loudly enough to presume to be the boss…the old me doesn’t like being told what to do. And when in the middle of a self-inflicted chaos situation…a calming force seems patronizing…even if it’s from me!!!

And so I wait for a breath and begin to assure myself that the windows will be here tomorrow. I suggest that I set a date for their cleaning for two weeks from today or even longer, if I want.  This gives me the time to get ready for it. No stress…No hurry….and it’ll be so worth it when they are clean again and we can see everything that the seasons have to offer.

Hmmmm, that sounds like a winner. Yes, indeed. My mood returns to terrific and all is well…my coffee cup is in the sink and I’m off to the studio to finish this amazing transom. Catastrophe averted…No one was hurt…and it’s Friday!  Everything good happens on Fridays….and Saturdays…and Sundays……..and …….every day. We just have to make sure that it’s so.

I’m so glad that we had this little talk. Everyone wins!