Mount Grumble and Me
My life sucked. It truly did. Especially in the lockdown. The list of chores never ended. I had no time to do the things I wanted to. I dreaded getting up every morning to a sink full of dishes and a million more chores, big and small.
That was when I started climbing Mount Grumble. I complained and grumbled nonstop and the higher I went on Mount Grumble, the worse things got. The weight of the chores increased tenfold, until I could bear it no longer.
That is when I decided to stop climbing that mountain and get rid of the weight in my life. I decided to Stop Grumbling and Complaining!
When I looked at the mountain of dishes in my sink, I forced myself to think, “These dishes are in the sink because I have food! And I am doing the dishes today, because I am alive to do them!”
Yes, I say “forced” because it was not easy. I had to keep reminding myself. As one of my mentors used to tell me, “Fake it before you make it”, and I was faking it. I had to consciously stop myself from grumbling and look at the chores as a blessing instead.
The second thing I decided to do was look beyond the chore to the result. As a result of finishing up the dishes, I will have a shiny sink. If I take that one day to prep and cook for the week, I have good nutritious food and it frees me up to do other stuff the rest of the week.
I am not going to tell you that a miraculous change took place. No, the first week was hard. I slipped back into my grumbling mode so often, I despaired of getting out. But I just kept at it, cried over my failures at times, but kept at it, and then suddenly there was a tipping point where I was no longer grumbling but just working quietly and efficiently, blessing all my work and being thankful for life itself.
I know this is not the end of the journey, but I am not going to give up or give in to the temptation of climbing Mount Grumble again. I am going to find more and better ways of coping.
Look out for my next post on “Have to do days versus want to do days.” To make sure you don’t miss out, do subscribe to this site and follow me.
How are you coping with life in the lockdown? Do leave a comment below, I would love to hear from you.
oh it has not been easy! And I am going with the attitude of ‘just deal with it’. I am glad that the shift in your thought process is working for you.
Hugs ! Hang in there!
Life has been tough for us all, but you’re right, grumbling and moaning doesn’t help. Mindfulness and gratitude are seeing so many of us through these times. Like you said, the best thing to do is roll up one’s sleeves and get to the tasks on hand. Take care and keep safe, Sunita.
Thanks Corinne. I have learnt a lot of this from you. Your blog posts have somehow always come at a time when I needed them the most.
We are all in the same boat and there are days when I feel like abandoning ship and sleeping the whole day.
Of course this is a fantasy so I just get you and thank god for what I have. Things could have been worse .
This helps me get through things with a ‘smile’
Been through the wanting to sleep the day away as well. Some days I give in
I can relate!!! Climbed the mountain a few times myself and the view wasn’t great.
I know right?
It is tough Sunita, initially with the strict lockdown and not being able to get out, not having online deliveries, I couldn’t even manage to get my weekly dose of chicken and fish which I absolutely need! it seemed like a nightmare. It got better eventually with things opening up and we getting slowly sued to this new pattern of life. I could spend more time with my daughter and could work on my fitness which were the ups of this lockdown. It is not all hunky dory though and I miss going out and meeting people, dining, meeting friends but as they say and you said it “learning to accept what you cannot control and counting your blessings helps”
Hey a refreshing reminder….. been there done that ….I have come to terms with my sink …..
Looking forward to the next blog
I swear. I haven’t called my maid yet. Giving it some more time. Luckily I have a dushwasher for dishes. Work doesnt end at all. Though I am enjoying it, it does get tiring at times. Great for family bonding and teaching chores to kids.
I am literally reading this after finishing a sink full of dishes. Can relate to your thoughts and words so so well. Yes, it takes a lot of inner work to accept the extra (and unexciting) work and to make peace with it.