Throwing in the Towel

By Leigh Thomas

I am a list maker. A serious, Type A, keep-the-Post-It-company-in-business list maker.

I start every week with an ambitious to-do list that usually includes the likes of cleaning out closets, ironing, extra workouts, errands, writing, and then some, on top of the usual lists for homework, laundry and other “necessary” things – as if I would forget those. I am notorious for making lists for things that I would do on auto-pilot just so I’ll have the satisfaction of checking them off.

Anyway, you get the picture – I’m a pretty scheduled person (understatement of the year). But, sometimes life and the list collide and life wins. There are just weeks that – and I know you can relate, OCD or not – things just don’t seem to work out.

This is one of those weeks. I have thrown in the towel in defeat. I mean I literally threw in the towel – right onto the floor of my laundry room as my washing machine broke and water started leaking out of it. I stood there, water seeping under my feet, watching in horror while in the meantime my e-mail inbox continued to blow up, my son called for help with his homework, my daughter insisted on changing into her Sleeping Beauty costume (this is a daily occurrence), dinner needed to be making its way to the stove, and my to-do list sat, untouched.

This wasn’t on the list.

Sadly this was not the first mishap of the week. And it was only Tuesday. So, I did the rational thing and called B, poured a glass of wine, ordered a pizza and put on my pajamas. Later I parked on the couch, watched TV for two hours and wrote this post. And well what do you know – I actually relaxed. Yeah, our checkbook took a hit in Lowe’s today at probably the WORST time of year. A new washer and dryer aren’t exactly what I wanted for Christmas. But I think this was God’s funny way of saying, “Look, lady, you are not in charge and you need to chill.”

Point taken. I will make my new list tomorrow.

Leigh Thomas is a Columbia-area wife, mom of two, runner and communications professional. Because that affords her so much spare time, she also pursues freelance writing and editing. Visit her blog at literalleigh.blogspot.com.