Normally by this time of summer break, I've completed at least one major project w/ plans to complete three or four more for the summer. This is my time for painting, gardening, and cleaning/organizing with a lot of softball thrown in the mix. Since Mom's death, I've lost my motivation. I've never been a strong believer in extrinsic motivators, but apparently Mom had more influence on my actions than I realized. Instead of painting the foundation of our house, which was to be my first project, I just want to nap and read pointless novels. So today I enacted what I'm calling, the Law of Opposite Reaction to Contrary Actions (O.R.C.A.). The way this works is that any time I think about wanting to take a nap or read a novel or anything that would be contrary to being productive, I do just the opposite. So this morning when I wanted to go back to bed after getting breakfast for the girls and seeing them off to school, I instead cleaned the kitchen, did laundry, and straightened up Kenzie's room. I allowed myself to read for 30 minutes while I had lunch, but when I wanted to keep reading, I went to my office to write a letter of recommendation for a student. When I got home and wanted to sit on the deck and read and snooze, I mowed the lawn instead.
It's important for me not to think; kinda like Kevin Costner's line in Bull Durham when he tells Tim Robbins to "Don't think, Meat. Just throw." I have a tendency to think, and re-think, and over-think everything, which is why it's important for me to follow my Law of ORCA. I will not think, I will just act. I will be conscientious about incorporating fun, which is where the softball and gardening come in, but whenever I feel the urge to take a nap I will take an opposite reaction to this contrary action and be productive. I can't just be a bum for three months; I just don't have it in me b/c Mom's in me and she could never sit for long periods of time either........except when she was reading. Near the end she would get so upset w/ herself for not getting more done in her day, but then she listed off that she had cooked, cleaned the bathroom, and washed clothes. And that was while she was fighting four cancers.
I hereby solemnly swear to: 1) stop feeling sorry for myself; 2) stop blaming Mom for not being here to motivate me; 3) think What Would Mom Do (WWMD) and then do it; and 4) follow the Law of ORCA.
I really like your Law of ORCA. I think it could apply to my dieting. Whenever I want to eat, do something else. It doesn't hurt that an orca is a type of whale. It should definitely work. Now I just have to get this bum shoulder taken care of.
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