So, you know how when you start doing something, and you’re really pumped about it, and it’s going really well… and then you just stop? And you have a bajillion reasons why you’re no longer doing it, even though you still really just want to do it some more..
And then it gets to a point where it’s been so long that it feels awkward and a little embarrassing to start again? But you get over yourself and finally decide to just DO IT.
Yeah. That. Welcome back to your own blog, McKinnley.
It was a big summer and an even bigger year. I have a TON of blog ideas that I can’t wait to spew out. So what the heck has taken me so long? I dunno, I don’t have a single good excuse.
Without any further preamble:
HOW TO DO THE THINGS YOU WANT, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT
I’m house hunting.
I’ve been looking for a place to call home for the last six months. And it’s exciting, but also kind of frustrating. I’m trying to be proactive and open-minded, while simultaneously being patient and making sure I stick to my “non negotiable” list. (House-hunting is a lot like dating…)
A few weeks ago I put an offer on a place. It wasn’t perfect, it needed a little TLC, but instead of that being a turn off I got really pumped about it. I started looking up painting ideas and DIY projects on Pinterest. I knew exactly what I was going to do with the kitchen (butcher block countertops, rip out that weird standing cabinet, get a smaller island), the bathroom I wasn’t as sure about, but I was still excited to figure it out.
But I didn’t get the place, instead I got frustrated and kind of bummed out. All my great ideas were now going nowhere! I started catching myself thinking things like, “It’s so disappointing to not be able to do the things I want to do,” and “When I finally get my house it’ll be awesome and so satisfying.”
So I sat myself down and asked myself, “McKinnley, owning a house is going to be really frickin’ cool, but you can’t put your life on hold until you do. So, what exactly are you looking forward to? How come you’re so stoked about the idea of projects, and so disappointed that you aren’t able to do them right now?”
My answers were fairly enlightening:
– I want to put together my surroundings perfectly so that I’m perfectly comfortable and feel right at home.
– I also kind of want to show off my work and my place.
– And I’m looking forward to the chance to be creative, and to have a fun hobby.
Well guess what? I don’t need to own a house to do or feel any of those things!! Duh!
I found a project I can do right here, right now. It satisfies all the criteria: I get to be creative, it’s both a productive and fun use of my spare time, it will make my surroundings even more enjoyable, and I can totally show it off! I’m redoing my dresser! It involves a poster, paints and quotes. It’s turning out to be far more work than I anticipated (that always seems to be how these things go), but I’m already really pleased with it.
I’m feeling a lot better about where I’m at with my house hunt. And this thought breakdown is proving pretty useful in a whole bunch of areas in my life! “But what do you really want??” THAT is the big question.
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