Manufacturing Messiness? Not Today

Nothing is as simple as we hope it will be.

– Jim Horning

A friend offered me a picture while she spoke, one that I related to, this idea that all things are simple if done right. The word right is the stumbling block for me, because my perception is that there is a “right” way to anything.

Of course, there are correct ways to do things, ways in which things will work, but the kind of “right” I’m talking about is in my relationships, whether those relationships are intimate or professional.

Relationships are messy and not necessarily simple. The only way they resemble simplicity is if I don’t manufacture more messiness.

Like today, when I began work, I instantly became overwhelmed. Not because I don’t know what I’m doing (well, there’s a little bit of that), but mostly because I was tired, having been woken up several times the night before by a rambunctious kitten attacking my toes.

I can manufacture all kinds of messiness when I’m tired, so I reminded myself that, that is a truth for me today. This acknowledgment of truth lead me to focus on taking one thing at time, and when I began to stutter, I took a break.

None of what needed to be done changed, so in all reality my work requirements didn’t simplify. What did change were my actions. I created simplicity by not adding any extra messiness. And in not adding extra messiness I cultivated a work environment I could maintain productivity in.

Ultimately, there was no “right” way to get the work done. Another person may have not been overwhelmed or could have chosen a different way to deal with being overwhelmed. Either way, “nothing is as simple as we hope it will be.”

What this gives me, this acknowledgement of messiness, is freedom to keep showing up, to not give up, to keep moving forward.

No relationship is perfect (whatever that really means), whether intimate or professional, but I need not be afraid of that imperfection. And there is definitely hope in that.

P.S. For those of you who read my previous post, Our Stormy, I just wanted to let you know Stormy is doing great. She’s an excited, happy kitten, which is evident from her attacking my toes. 🙂