Since my last post during the first week of July, I returned to Zurich bringing Mom with me for a two week visit. She's been here enough to know her way around and has always been easy to have as a guest - flexible, helpful, curious, interested to know my friends and nearly always in a good mood.
But one little thing used to drive me nuts:
I would make a note of how long Mom could be in my apartment before she looked at some shelf, counter, corner or wall and said, "Jill, you could really use a ____ there." (Usually 30 minutes or less...)
I mean, really, I'd lived many months without _____ (a picture, vase, plant, gadget) and without any apparent damage to my life!
I'd respond that _____ (said vase, plant, picture, gadget) just wasn't a priority right now in the scheme of some big client, project, etc. But while cleaning closets during the last few months, I was reminded of one of my weaknesses: I just cannot see details and anyway don't enjoy them. Those little nice-to-have items would never be a priority. And part of my life was kind of a mess for it.
I am a big picture person, conceptual; I see strategy in chunks and priorities. Someone needs to remind me where I put my car keys.
So this time, I tried responding, "OK, Mom, maybe you can help me find one?" What a great bonus that proved to be. See here a few things acquired that way that I'm really using.
Go figure. Mom sees details the way I see concepts. Our different perspectives fit perfectly. And my life is better for the new vase, garlic clove holder, cookie jar, paper towel dispenser and bucket for my cleaning stuff.
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