Childhood Lessons

One of the purposes for returning to school (again!) was to be able to write more since much of what I end up doing seems to return to what I write. Of course, being in school also means time includes focus on homework, which can take time away from blogging and other writing that I WANT to do.

So, here I am at home, for once, during the last weekend of school for the semester, enjoying the house I finished moving into barely a week ago. One of the differences between the two houses is that I no longer have an automatic dishwasher.  This is not a bad thing, and if Abby is reading my post, I promise I am not asking for one. I mention the difference because it changes the process of how I have been doing dishes. I know. It’s not that complicated. Yet, a change is something I have to think about until it becomes the habit I want. Pondering the topic has made me think about my grandmother (Bubbi).  Unless it was a big gathering, I don’t think she had a dirty glass or dish for more than 5 minutes. In fact, I’m not sure when she actually ate anything because she was always cleaning up after everyone else. Although I did not inherit the ocd-ness from her, and will never have a basement “clean enough to eat off of,” as my dad used to say, I still find a lesson here. Letting the dishes pile up just means that there is more to do, causing unneeded anxiety. A good process is to finish eating and get them washed. I mean, I am just one person. I can reuse many of the dishes from one meal to another. If I let them go, I’d be using way more dishes (and therefore washing way more dishes) than necessary.

If you have been following along in the last couple of months, then you also know that besides homework, I have been working on a business idea with the most recent name of “Hacker Gals.” Part of the history of the name decision is that the group of Gals are “do-ers.” They may not be happy about what they are doing. Yet, if it is a necessity especially, they carry on. Probably the first example of a person I relate to this who I haven’t acknowledged enough, is my mom. When I was 15 years-old, my parents separated, forcing my mom to return to some form of schooling and find a job. She had been able to quit working just before I was born and stay at home until that time.  My mom took it in stride, though. She definitely did not like some of the places where she had to work, but she stayed on track, and she was always looking for the opportunities that would make her happier. At some point, she decided she wanted to sell the house, and that meant finding a job in the area where she wanted to move and then putting the house up for sale. I’m sure there are more examples in-between. Those are the ones that stick out in my head.

What does all of this mean to me? Well, I am not going to let my dishes sit and have to wash  more of them than necessary, and I am going to keep doing things. What I do tends to include more social connections, which is a “Hacker Gals” benefit twist, and what I enjoy. I like to believe that “social” trait comes from my Grandpa. He was probably shyer than me, yet he was always involved in something.

What are your thoughts?

Thanks for reading! (and commenting/liking)