Oh gosh! How many
times did Mother’s Little Helpers utter the words “I’m bored” when they were
youngsters? I wish I had a nickel, as
the saying goes, for every time that phrase came out of the mouths of those
babes.
If Old Mother Frugal recited those words when she was a
youngster, Old Grandmother Frugal would say “If you have nothing to do, I can
find something for you to do”. It
usually was not fun and it always required an expenditure of much energy on my
part. Dusting the baseboards around the house.
Ironing the pillowcases. Drying
the dishes. Hanging the wash to dry.
Folding the laundry.
Obviously, Old Mother Frugal’s boredom was to be relieved by
any chore Old Grandmother Frugal did not care to do, or so it would seem. Keeping
busy was key to avoiding unwarranted chores. If not busy, it was equally
obvious that there was a chore to be done, you just didn’t know it!
To this day, Old Mother Frugal has to stay busy. There is a reel going ‘round and around
inside her head “if you have nothing to do, I can find something for you to
do”. There are lists of sticky “Post It”
notes on the refrigerator, the kitchen cabinets, the counter top, the oven door
and even a list stuck to coupon box for shopping. Lists of busy work because
with aging, Old Mother Frugal can’t possibly remember everything!
It was well into adulthood before Old Mother Frugal
understood the lesson she learned about boredom and staying busy. Productivity improves one’s self-esteem. A sense of “mission accomplished” is a sense
of pride. Old Grandmother Frugal knew
that you can’t put a dollar price on something like that.
Sound the Bugle: Today’s tip – when life seems crowded with chores and busy work, set a block of time to allow yourself to work on that task. Write down what needs to be done. Organize the list as which to do first, then second and multi-task whenever possible!
COOKING ON ALL BURNERS
LET APPLIANCES DO ALL THE WORK
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