Thursday, October 8, 2009

Discretionary Caution Observed

I am feeling remotely free for this small space of time...a benefit to all who read this post because I am about to admit something that very few people know and even less want to find out about. I usually use discretion...not wanting to enhance the common opinion about me...but like I said I, for the moment am feeling free. Congrats.

I am fascinated at watching and observing how people handle things that come up in life. How they handle grief or change or hardships or blessings. I love to watch the resiliency in some and feel sad for those who don't handle things well. Oddly and even more fascinating to me is how I handle the above. I am not so great with change, hate grief, could give up hardships and I lackadaisically handle blessings.

The most poignant memory for me (and here come the beans spilling all over the floor) was a bed full of laundry. I remember, being fairly newly married, walking into our mobile home bedroom and seeing our bed with hundreds of thousands of clothes laying, heaping, and needing to be folded and put away. I remember the hate boiling up. Is this what my life had come to...a meaningless heap of laundry? I considered walking away. I pondered ignoring. I hoped for help and despised the reality.

But then came the resiliency. I squared my shoulders, straightened my shirt, replaced a fallen strand of hair, and became a talk show host. Yep. The third grade imagination came at me with full force. It was Chersten's Sharing Show...an eclectic mixture of ideas and expertise to help with the hum drum of daily life. I began the hour expressing my disdain for laundry and how I had found a way to fold and organize my clothing in a way that was not only satisfying to me but to the very clothes I had once had bad feelings for. I showed how to fold the fitted sheets, and the shirts, and how to properly hang those dress pants for optimum non wrinklage. The show was well received...I was an icon in the folding industry and best of all the hundreds of thousands of clothing items were all put away nicely, organized, and with love.

The sad thing, is that this has translated over to many aspects of my life. I also have a cooking show, an organization show, a cleaning and scrubbing hour, and many more I choose not to divulge.

We all handle things that come up in life very differently, mine just happens to be a little schizophrenic in nature.

Oh my gosh...I can feel the free feeling seeping out of me...I must hurry and publish this
before I wimp out.

8 comments:

Mike and Adrianne said...

I love that. The last few days, month really, has been a bummer so it's nice to hear about someone else feeling down and even better to hear how you overcome it. Love it. Thanks.

Kristin said...

hilarous. I love you. I haven't talked to you in forever...but when I move...your coming over for an afternoon:) I must get to know this girl...and her "how to" shows. Teach me some things.

Hickman Family said...

You should write books...all kinds, for all types of readers. You would most definitely entertain them all-loved it!

kjha said...

Remember the other day on the phone when you said something like you think we are sort of alike? Well, my dear, we're more alike than you think. And you can not imagine how wonderful it is to know that I am not the only one, although I must say, your shows sound much more creative and fun!

And I agree. you should write a book.

Becky said...

You are adorable !!!

I can't say that I knew you as a third grader, but I think it's safe to say that I've known you long enough and well enough to almost see you doing that! :) That was very fun for me to read. It brings back some fun happy memories.

BTW - I liked your tribute to Jared's dad. He really was such a great person. Hope you are all doing well, considering.

Skinny said...

this was good. the post before was good too.

the skin

p.s. just so you know, i wouldn't have folded the laundry. i would have just put it all on the floor and taken a nap.

Becky said...

Hi, Chersten! It's Becky Hart. I know that I tried to contact you last year, but for whatever reason, never really got a hold of you. I hope things are going well. I'm so glad to stumble across your blog!

Kelly Ledward said...

Hi! I love this. It made me smile. It seems like I always have a mountain of laundry to fold. I will have to "borrow" your methods! Laundry has never been one of my favorite things to do. I will admit. . . I have done the cooking show thing. . .hehe. It was fun. I just never thought to take it to the next level. Watch out Martha! Oh- and I agree with Hickman family! You should write books. I love your style. xoxo