In the months of March and April I think that Mother Nature proves that she is a Sidetracked Home Executive. She just can't quite make up her mind what she wants to do. She starts to get all dressed up in green and then wham she covers herself with white. She calms down one minute and the next she rages like a mother bear protecting her cubs. This year, since she's been cavorting around with El Nino, she has been so sidetracked that she forgot to stop winter when her buddy Mr. Ground Hog said she would. I sure hope that Mother Nature dumps El Nino soon. The pair has gotten out of hand and we have to put up with their sidetracked courtship.
Maybe we can learn something from the couple. Maybe we can get a glimpse of how the people who have to live with us feel. I recently went to a lecture on relationships and the speaker asked the group of about 200 couples, "Do you do anything that is annoying to your spouse?" We all sort of snickered and raised our hands. Then he asked, "Do you still do it anyway?" We all raised our hands again, except for a few people in denial. Why do we keep doing things that annoy those we live with?
Your assignment for the months of March and April is to eliminate an annoyance and do something special that pleases your spouse. Admit an annoyance (just one) that you perpetrate and stop it. Just STOP IT! Do you read the newspaper and leave it half on the couch and half on the floor? Do you get cranky at the same time every day? Do you get the mail and leave it scattered all over the house? Just pick one thing and decide never to do it again. Don't tell anyone you are doing this. Keep it a secret. It takes three weeks to establish a habit so once you've mastered one annoyance-free behavior think of something you know would please your spouse and follow through on that thought.
Here is what I am working on with my husband. (He doesn't know that I'm working on this unless he goes on this web-site.) When I get tired I can give him a look that maims. Terry often takes that look personally. It is totally in my power to eliminate that look from my repertoire. If Mel Gibson came to my house around 9 in the evening do you think I would give him that look? Heavens no. So I'm not looking the look. I have had to catch myself several times, but I'm winning.
For the other part of the assignment, I've been thinking about some of the things that please Terry. He likes hors d'oeuvres. (Just part of what will be dinner, stuck on a skewer with a few hunks of cheese and some chips.) I'm going to put more energy into enjoying a small block of time with him just before dinner. It's fun to watch him relax and get cozy. He also likes to eat at the table instead of eating in the family room with Larry King. I love to eat with Larry, but I'm going to set the table three nights out of the week and tape Larry. He'll really like that.
Whatever you do this spring, have fun. Enjoy the little bit of order you are putting into your life and enjoy the trend.
God bless you and your families.