This is totally why I don't have any published novels to my name:
"WOMEN WITH CLEAN HOUSES
DO NOT HAVE FINISHED BOOKS."
(Joy Held)
Because you know, my house is So. Clean.
Okay, even the tortoises are laughing at that.
Seriously, though, it's all about priorities. In the past, I got off course, got distracted. I fell for some of society's expectations. I let people and what they thought into my head. I tried to please even as I tried to be myself. My dreams and hopes suffered. My writing suffered. My spirit suffered.
Well, enough is enough. The majority of my energy and focus now goes to health/losing weight and to writing. My husband, my partner in all things, gets that. We're in this thing called life together.
So, if the dust bunnies form an army, my husband will conquer them with the vacuum. If the laundry pile turns mountain, I'll scale it then throw in a wash. If neither of us feels like cooking, we'll hunt for hearty, healthy takeout salads.
Now, if only we could get the tortoises to pull their weight around here . . .
*****
How about you? Are you struggling with priorities right now? Are you balanced, focused, on track for the most part? What's working for you? How dirty does your house have to get before you surrender and get to cleaning?
I'm usually rather balanced. And a bit of a clean freak. After a couple days of neglect, I'm not above dragging out the vacuum cleaner.
ReplyDeleteI would think you'd have your clones doing the vacuuming, Alex. I'd have them doing ALL the housework. :)
DeleteThat quote totally applies to me, too, if you remove the first two letters, since I'm supposed to be the main housework doer around here! I totally understand about priorities. I don't think it's necessary for things to be sparkling clean; I general, I pretty much keep things to an acceptable level, which is easier now we live in a smaller house than before!
ReplyDeleteI've given up on what used to be my idea of a perfectly kept house, etc. I do like things uncluttered in the main parts of the house, though. Just don't look behind too many closed doors.... :)
DeleteLove that quote! I've gotten myself into the habit of doing one or two household chores in the afternoon after my son gets home from school. He needs some down time at that point and watches YouTube, so I do my chores. That way I don't get too far behind. Now the outside of the house, well, eventually I'll mow!
ReplyDeleteI love the quote, too!
DeleteHow soon until your son is old enough to mow the lawn? :)
Cleaning? Who does that? But seriously... I swear I could clean 6 hours a day in this new house and still not feel like it's clean. That's to be expected with six bodies running around, right? If I stopped to clean, I'd NEVER accomplish anything. But I did used to have a weekly schedule of when which things got cleaned. I need a maid.
ReplyDeleteSix bodies running around?! Yes, I think you need a maid, too. :)
DeleteI sometimes have trouble with my husband taking on household chores. I've learned to leave the chores that he prefers to do to him while I do the rest.
ReplyDeleteDelegation is everything. Ha!
We split the chores, too. not necessarily down the middle, but it works for us. :)
DeleteFor once in my life, I think my priorities are pretty much in order. They must be, because I'm pretty darn happy. Mainly, this is because I've prioritized writing higher than I ever have before. I've always written, but I didn't make time for it Every Single Day like I do now. The only thing that trips me up is that, even though I'm prioritizing better, I'm still not able to devote enough time to all the things that matter. For example, health and fitness--which is critical to all the rest. Typical working mom's lament, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteExcellent, Eve! I'm happy you're happy. :)
DeleteI'm sure you get more exercise than you think chasing after the kids. Have you thought about a treadmill desk? Or a standing desk? (I mentioned here on the blog awhile back something I use off and on - it's called The Stand Stand. It's basically three pieces of wood you fold out and put on top of your desk to put your laptop on. It's relatively inexpensive and compact and easy to move when you do want to sit.)
I'm always struggling to find balance. As it turns out, I have the exact same priorities you do. Which means I'm woefully behind on laundry, errands, etc.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend who's always cleaning and renovating her house while she misses her daily word count and neglects her novels. I don't want to be a professional cleaner--I want to be a professional novelist. And as long as it isn't filthy, no one is going to remember how clean my house was. But they'll hopefully remember the books I wrote.
Stay true, Madeline! I'm with you.
I absolutely LOVE this -
Delete"I don't want to be a professional cleaner--I want to be a professional novelist. And as long as it isn't filthy, no one is going to remember how clean my house was. But they'll hopefully remember the books I wrote."
I might need to make that my new mantra. :)
I'm fortunate to have a husband who helps with housework, laundry, and dishes. I'm okay with clutter until company is on the way. Sometimes when I hit a snag with my writing I'll get out the Swifter and clean the floors. My mother kept an "immaculate" house and a beautiful garden--sadly her cleaning gene and gardening gene skipped me. Instead, I inherited my dad's love of words and stories.
ReplyDeleteMy husband does a good chunk of the chores. We're a good team. :)
DeleteAs often as I have hit writing snags, I don't think I've ever turned to dusting. Laundry, maybe, but never dusting. :)
I am so wishing I could high five you right now! Love it.
ReplyDeleteConsider it done! :)
Delete"If the dust bunnies form an army..." Lol. Too funny!
ReplyDeleteI like to keep my house straightened (because it stresses me out when it gets too messy) but as for dusting and vacuuming? It happens when it happens! Lol. :)
You laugh but that dust army is pretty scary when it starts marching.... :)
DeleteMy hubs did the leftover mountain of laundry while I was visiting Hungary and he stayed home. (He's kind of awesome - except I missed him.) Then, I came home and emptied my carry-on luggage into the laundry bin . . . which I haven't had a chance to do since my kids have been doing theirs. Today! The laundry will be conquered - after I write at least 500 words.
ReplyDeletePriorities are important!
My dust bunnies are preparing for battle in the trenches under the couch. :)
Write those words! Just don't let the dust bunnies and the laundry join forces.... :o
DeleteYes, yes, yes. We got home yesterday from a trip to a week long conference. We picked up way too many good books that need read that will help us in our ministry of Member Care. My month is full of doctor appointments, I teach a bible study, go to another one, then there is church. On top of that we share a house with our son and family which means lots of grand children to love on. I badly want to take an online writing class but I have to go daily when we are home to warm water exercise to get in shape for a knee replacement. And in between all that we have day visits with missionaries scheduled. I think I will leave the dust bunnies for a while...good to know I am not the only one..
ReplyDeleteAs long as all of our dust bunnies don't unite and form one giant army, we'll be okay. :)
DeleteGood luck with the knee replacement!
I'm an AM person, so I'm usually stuck with cleaning the house. I don't mind, which works out perfectly I guess.
ReplyDeletewww.ficklemillennial.wordpress.com
As long as you don't mind then it's all good. :)
DeleteMy house is definitely cleaner when I've finished a project, or when I'm just starting one and my procrastination requirement is heightened.
ReplyDeleteOh, yes, I know that procrastination requirement well. :)
DeleteI can ignore a lot of things in my house...until I know company is coming. I'm in that trap right now because one of my sons and daughters-in-law will be here the weekend of the 15th. Must clean! Even the refrigerator....
ReplyDeleteI try to keep the main areas of the house pretty clean and uncluttered, but if guests were staying over, I'd need to do some major cleaning!
DeleteHa! Love the quote. I like your priorities. Doing a little each day helps me stay on top of things, and now that I have older kids they help a lot. But I don't have any deadlines right now.
ReplyDeleteI used to try to declutter a little or do quick dustings each day, but that doesn't always work for me the way I wish it did. :)
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