You never know what a day will bring you when you roll out of bed in the morning. And we never know how the events of the day will send us into a tailspin or teach us a lesson before the day is over.
No matter what any of us are trying to do in our lives, calm is usually something that we treasure. But calm is not something that many of us have in abundance. That would be my case today. Today was not the norm for me and the chaos seemed to be coming at me from every direction.
I started my day knowing that the receptionist was going to be out until early afternoon and I would be the only person in the office. I, however, did no know that the world at large was going to conspire against me to try and literally drive me over the edge. I got up, cooked my breakfast, packed my lunch and snacks, poured my 32 ounces of decaf/splenda sweetened tea and hit the road for my hour drive to work. And yes, if you are wondering, the bathroom is my first stop on arriving to work. When I got there the phone started ringing and did not stop for hours. I had calls regarding every topic you can think of coming into a city office. I even had calls that had nothing to do with city related business as we so often get, asking for phone numbers to county offices, Channel 4 in Nashville, the library, attorney's offices and others that I can't remember at this time. Yes, when someone doesn't feel like looking a number up they often call our office for some reason. During all of the phone calls I had a lady appear at my desk asking for a meeting with my boss and a 20 minute story as to why she needed it. I finally had to set the meeting that really doesn't need to happen just so I could get them out of my office and try to continue working. The whole time I was answering phones, trying to clear email and looking for a document that has mysteriously disappeared from my desk. The mail was delivered and I accidentally opened part of it because it was on my desk and the phone rang. Unfortunatly, my reaction to mail on my desk is open it. Oops. I had 5 or 6 pieces open before I realized I was opening the mail for the entire building and not just my boss. Every time I would even take a minute to run to the restroom I would have a couple of voice mail on the phone when I returned.
It was absolute chaos in our office to say the least. It was one of the craziest days we have had in the almost year and a half since I have been there. So, when the receptionist did finally get there I decided I had to leave to go to lunch before I did something I would regret. I brought my lunch but I had to get out of that office for a few minutes to a place where no one else was and the phone wasn't ringing.
In comes the old habits. I immediately thought "Man I really want to go to the Mexican restaurant and put my face straight into a whole basket of chips." Yep, a little uncontrolled chaos and I immediately turn to food. What can soothe me better than some food? But something in me has changed without me really noticing it. Amidst the chaos of the day the little voice inside me that has taken up what I hope is permenant residence reminded me of what I am doing and how far I have come. It reminded me that the chips are just food and that I don't really want to go and destroy all of the good I have done this week to break the 3 week plateau that I have been sitting on. Wow, even a 41 year old woman like me really can learn new habits. My mother would be so proud of my choice today to choose me over the food.
So needless to say, I did leave the office for lunch. I went to Subway and got a sandwhich (not the bad for me tuna that I really wanted) and a bad of Light Lays. I then went to the river and ate it in peace while I read my book. Just an hour away from the office really helped to reset my emotionally and spiritally. I did not need a basket of chips and salsa to do that like I always thought I did in the past. What an amazing revelation.
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