bit by bit
how you get things done
Good day, folx. I am sending this a little later than usual because I booked a last-minute flight to visit my parents and grandma this weekend. I spent the weekend drinking coffee, chatting with my family, watching Keeping Up Appearances and Leave it to Beaver, and visiting two really amazing Mexican markets. I drank horchata and bought Peruvian corn nuts!
Before I left, I embarked on a big project that had been nagging me for months. When I was divorced and moved out of my home, I packed up photos, years of school projects, artwork, cards, mementos, etc. I gathered things in boxes, determined to go through them later when I was settled. They all got shoved into a cedar-lined closet in my new home called the archive. Slowly (over the last 4 years), the boxes began to sag under their weight, and sneaky people began using the closet to stash things from their rooms they no longer had space for.
In a fit, and when I feared it would all topple out, I cleared out the closet into my room nearby. I knew I could not perfectly organize everything, and I feared the emotional weight of going through decades of memorabilia. I devised a quick method that still took a few days but was manageable. Each kid and I were assigned a bin for artwork, writing, and creative projects. Also, a smaller box was assigned for cards and letters. I went through cards and saved ones with personalized notes and the ones that were homemade and hand-drawn. I also created a bin of videotapes, DVDs, and audio cassettes. I plan to have them digitized soon. All loose photos went into one box, and photo albums were evaluated for their use (some could be emptied, others were a nice size for a bookshelf.
I knew I needed to wrap it up before leaving town because returning to that mess would be debilitating. So, I worked quickly, packed things back up, and stacked them into the closet. The job is not perfect, but I left it in a much better, more organized state, so hopefully when I return to the task (this winter?), I can continue to create an organized(ish) archive.
And for the overwhelm, it worked quickly and let he memories pour through me as I reaffirmed that I have lived a good and full life, and that my kids had so much time to explore when they were younger and boatloads of support and love.
I share this to remind myself to not ignore the hard jobs that need to get done (before they literally crush you!) and that a “half-assed” job is better than not doing the work at all. Writing about not getting derailed, Oliver Burkeman, in Four Thousand Weeks, extolls the principle of “embracing radical incrementalism.” Apparently, the research bears out that many consistent small steps are better at getting things done than fits and bursts of energized engagement and stultifying blocks. I encourage you and me to take a step, even a wobbly or unsure one, in the direction of that thing that is hanging over us. Whether it is a chore, something we anticipate to be emotionally draining, or a creative project that we are nervous to commit to, tiny steps, even as small as turning your head in the direction of your overfilled closet, can free your resistance and get you onto the right path.
Of interest:
Going to try this healthier horchata recipe. I love the flavor and cooling effect, but the sugar makes me feel bleh.
My nighttime show right now is Rick Stein’s Cornwall. It is so relaxing and uplifting. If you want to see nice people doing nice things in a beautiful landscape, I recommend it. Streaming on Amazon.
I love Necco wafers. My son told me that they were taken by barrel loads (thousands of pounds worth) on Arctic explorations, and sailors were paid something like 2 pounds a week of the chalky candy. I am not sure why I love that story or the candy so much - but Necco, Candy Dots, Sweethearts, and Pez are all favorites for their simplicity and long histories.
I am going to make Cuban coffee this week. Specifically, I am interested in the sweet crema (espumita) you beat up while the coffee brews (just the sugar and the first tablespoon or so of coffee). Apparently, this is also an Italian method. Any tips? Please share.
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Lab this week is inspired by something I uncovered in the archive. I am excited to share and complete the project myself.
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A good reminder! I am a "piler" who puts things off until I can do them *right.* Bit by bit is advice I needed today!