Week three is complete! As I think back on what I’ve worked on over the past three weeks it doesn’t feel like much until I start looking at my list. Then I’m able to see how much I’ve accomplished! And it’s amazing!
I’ve finished so many things I’d been putting off for so long! I’m noticing a big change in myself…not just with this effort to complete all of these home projects, but with other things too. The biggest thing I’ve noticed today is the resistance. Any of you who have tried to improve anything about yourself know that after awhile the excitement wears off, then old habits feel neglected and try to make a big comeback. I’ve been feeling this BIG TIME this week. But I’ve pushed through. I’ve finished something on my list everyday, even if it was something super small because I WANT to develop the new behavior of being a finisher instead of a procrastinator.
This place I’m at right now, where I’m constantly trying to finish things I’ve been putting off, sometimes for years, is uncomfortable. It’s the stretchy, awkward, scary feeling I’d get when I’d have to give a presentation in school, or talk to a new person, or play in a piano recital. All of those things terrify me because I don’t like being the center of attention, so when I’m in a situation like those and putting myself in a position where I could mess up and potentially be made fun of or embarrassed in some way (especially because I’d usually procrastinate preparing for those things) it was outside of my comfort zone. But you know what? I am so grateful for every presentation, every recital, every new person I’ve talked to because it’s caused growth inside of me, even the mortifyingly embarrassing experiences.
I’ve been struggling so much inside today because it would be so EASY to go back to my old way of doing things: put it off, pretend I don’t see it, wait for Curtis or my mom to do it, and frantically try to get it all done at the last minute. I’ve really analyzed what’s been going on inside of me and here’s what I’ve come up with…there’s a part of me that wants to take the easy and lazy road where I simply make do with what I’ve got and life goes on the way it always has. Is there anything wrong with that? For me, the answer is yes! Yes because there’s another, bigger part of me that wants to move forward and get my goals, hopes, and dreams! This part of me wants to leave my home in the best possible condition I can before I leave it for someone else. The bigger part of me wants to change my old habit of procrastinating. The bigger part of me wants to show my kids and myself that I can complete this gigantic commitment of finishing all of these things on my list. The part of me that’s hungry for my dreams knows that the skills of finishing, following-through, and appreciating what I finish are skills that will help me accomplish more of my goals down the road.
That being said, here are the things I’ve accomplished this week:
Day 15: 11/12/2020
I fixed the toilet paper holder in the upstairs bathroom. It fell off/was pulled off of the wall probably five months ago. It was super easy to fix. Woohoo!
Day 16: 11/13/2020
I reattached two base pieces of door trim on the front door. We replaced this door two(?) years ago and had to take the trim off to get it in. We replaced the side boards a few months ago, but never got around to replacing the bottom pieces…until now!
Day 17: 11/14/2020
I finished sanding the trim around the office doorway and I helped Curtis install the office door. I am so tickled about this project! Curt started working from home in March and it’s probably going to be a permanent set up now, so we needed a good office space for him to work. He originally started out in our bedroom, but a couple of months ago he moved downstairs to the office. However there was not an office door and we have four little kids…so imagine a daily conference call with his team. Let’s just say they’ve had to mute him more than once. The day after he moved his office downstairs I found the door at Habitat for Humanity (a second-hand home supply store) for $45. It’s a gorgeous door that’s made with really heavy-duty wood and tempered glass windowpanes, and it’s the perfect size. I thought it would be super easy to install, but Curt knew it would take a lot of work to get it all figure out, so we’ve been putting it off. On Saturday we finally got to to work and installed it. It was a long process with a lot of steps, but it’s in and it looks amazing! Plus, I no longer have to constantly police the kids’ volume during his calls! AMAZING!
The door must have been used as a pantry or closet door in its previous home because it didn’t have a moving handle…it was just screwed onto the door. Curt cut out a hole for the handle, and cut a hole for the faceplate. He also had to chisel out a hole for the doorplate. We had to use a wood plane on the trim to get the door to fit. We cut and nailed in the trim to stop the door from going in too far.
Day 18: 11/15/2020
Rest day.
Day 19: 11/16/2020
I caulked the gaps in the office door and painted the trim around the front door.
Day 20: 11/17/2020
I fixed the curtain rod in the living room. The curtains have been sat on and climbed on a few times, so the bracket was a bit bent and that crooked curtain rod drove me nuts. Do you have something in your house that you feel you have to make an excuse for or explain anytime anyone new comes to your house? That set of curtains was my thing. But now it’s straight and beautiful and the kids know not to sit or climb on them.
Day 21: 11/18/2020
Report and post blog for the week.
2 responses to “Overcoming What’s Comfortable”
Way to go! It looks awesome. I have a lot of the little things like that at my house. It felt so good to get Little things done.
Adrianne, I appreciate your openness, it inspires me to know you are facing your struggles and look at all you’re accomplishing! All these projects in and of themselves are not necessarily huge and grand, but look at the difference you’re making in your home. Way to go!