Several years ago, I had an art studio in Tubac, Arizona. Across the courtyard from my place in "The Tower" was another artist, Linda. She and I both drove Jeeps.
Linda kept her gas tank full all the time (back then, gas had climbed to $5.00 a gallon there!) by filling it each time it got down to 3/4 of a tank. I frantically, holding my breath, made it to the gas station as the gauge read empty and put in 1/4 of a tank's worth each time... we were spending the same amount of money, but I was in a constant hyper-vigilant state, living in limitation and fear (as far as the petrol was concerned!).
I was running on the bottom of my gas tank. In doing so, I created misery for myself (all through that part of Arizona are long stretches with no gas stations) when a simple solution, obvious but ignored, would have given me peace of mind. I could have filled my gas tank to the brim when a painting sold and adopted Linda's practice of keeping the darn thing full!
I see this situation unfold in other strange ways in my life now. I was letting dishes gather in the sink to be washed because I "had no time", but I did have to make time eventually to wash them. My solution now is to unload clean dishes from the dishwasher the moment they are done and place the dirty dishes as they are dirtied into the dishwasher immediately. Now, I've not had a working dishwasher until this home, so my appreciation for this is great.
What may seem so simply obvious can become overlooked and unknown when a person (especially a horse person) crams 24 hours worth of work and projects into 12 hours! Yet, I think about Linda a lot.
What would Linda do? I have asked myself - about laundry piled beside the full hamper; the full trash cans and it is cold and dark outside (to take them to the dumpster); the empty toilet paper rolls, dust bunnies in the corners, houseplants wilting, nose prints on the storm door (canine) - would she walk by and intend to address these later. I think she would just do what she saw needed to be done. And, unless it interferes with a lesson I have to teach, I just do what I see needs to be done now, too.
I remember being more like Linda in my past. I was organized and focused and had a great deal of confidence. I now remind myself (and am reminding you) that - if I can do something once, I can do it a hundred times - if you can trot one twenty meter circle, you can trot a hundred of 'em!
And, if you are feeling overwhelmed or disorganized, think, "What would Linda do?" It's working for me.
Best wishes to you!!
Katharine &
Dharmahorse
