Celebrating the Detours on the Way to Mastering Those Jealously Guarded Secrets

“Mom, I think the dog vomited on the rug in the entryway.”

I look up at fifteen-year-old Emma with a hopeless, “What are you talking about?” which forced me to take my eyes away from the lazy fun I was having visiting new blogs from new people who are so cool I want to be friends with them all. “Ok, thanks. I’ll be right there.”

It is another Saturday in the life of Mom, a job I love more than anything in the world, but really? The dog vomited? Can I put that on my updated resume or CRV, “Cleaner of animal vomit from the entryway rug?”

What about the endlessness of washing dishes?

Please don’t leave, dear reader, I won’t write anymore on those subjects but I just had to get it out. I had to say that before I continued down the path of some truly amazing writing (which in my first drafting I actually wrote “righting” on some very reflective and action oriented topic which will assist each person who reads this to have an amazing, abundant life made up of one dynamic jealously guarded secret after another!

Now, now, I know I have gone too far now.

I’ll get back to reality.

Sometimes you think you have this lazy day stretched in front of you. No one needs your direct supervision throughout the day and most everything is under control. We start thinking, “Hooray! I deserve to live in paradise!” which yes, we do, but what if paradise includes cleaning up the dog vomit in the entryway?

I would hate to not have my dogs in paradise and I would hate even more if my dog got sick in paradise and had to hold it back in order to keep me happy.

Sometimes you need to take detours in your writing to get to the “best stuff” and sometimes you have to take detours in your career, lifework or business because situations change.

Your best stuff will still be there when you come back just like the dog vomit will stay on the rug until I go to clean it up unless the magic house cleaning fairy comes to visit. I’ve been waiting for her most of my life without results so I doubt it will change now, no matter how long I procrastinate. All those things you really want to do with your life will wait, patiently, when you address, once again, those endless dishes that need watching.

This morning Alice the cat wanted to keep me company as I wrote here, so I cleared off my desk to make her a spot. It was far too cluttered, anyway, it was about time I cleared it, so once I got over a very short whine fest, I made her space and surprisingly I felt immediately freer and grateful to have pets who love to hang out right beside me when I do my creative and lifework practices.

I suppose the moral of the story for each and all of us is, celebrate the detours and be with whatever shows up right under your nose. I know, this isn’t anything new, but I thought maybe you – like I – need a reminder from time to time, even if it is just an excuse to not get off your derriere and clean up… well… you know.

This post is Number 6 of 30 and was inspired by the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Throughout the month I will be posting writing and creativity tips especially to make your writing (and your writing experience!) better.