The COVID-19 Chapter, “At Home”: DAY 12&13
After pulling myself out of the doldrums, I took the last couple of days by the collar, and got to work. Yesterday was a full day of overseeing the packing of a home I’m selling, and as usual, getting busy was the best salve for me. As my dad (and St. Augustine) used to say – to work is to pray. I understand this in my bones, and my bones have been more than happy for the distraction. I woke up today, buzzing around, feeling completely amped. A good clear, sunny day also helped immensely.
Ooooooh, project!
For instance, in this situation, these brave owners are living out one of my worst nightmares. Sometimes the thought occurs to me, and I think, what if I died, and someone had to come pack up my house? Even worse, what if I WASN’T dead, and something prevented me from cleaning out my mess of a house, and someone else had to see how secretly filled with junk my attic is, and I had to live with that, knowing it was happening and there was nothing I could do about it?? Horrifying.
Don’t get me wrong, this lovely home was perfect. Nothing at all for them to worry about in the slightest. And the packers were amazing. We were there for pretty much the whole day yesterday, and today was the actual hauling out day. Stuff got packed away, stuff got picked up and moved. Just like that. I will do well to remember, as these lovely clients have reassured me, that it’s just stuff. It’s a good lesson.
So what’s the takeaway? A number of things. First of all, it’s so good to keep moving. Good for my soul, good for my mind and body. Inaction makes the crazy get bigger. Please go away, crazy. Also – even in the midst of this nutso time of lockdown and lack of movement – there is movement! My job is keeping people moving – and I’m trying to do just that. What a gift, that even when the entire world has been forced to remain still, I’m still focusing on the movement, and that’s a good thing.