Well, I have to report that the house is still in a mess, with "Stuff" everywhere - but, hey everyone, it's World Kindness Day today, the day when, through Random Acts of Kindness, we can make ourselves and others
happy. So, on the basis that, before I can be kind to others, I need to be kind to myself, I set out to celebrate the occasion.
As a Random Act of Kindness, I thought I would pass on a few
hints, via the Daily Blog. That way, we will all be happy. If only for today.
Hint Number One is to turn every negative into a positive. So, for example, when I set up the ironing board
this afternoon and surveyed the pile of clothes before me, I did not think, sourly (i) why did nobody tell me that household chores still had to be done even when you are retired; (ii) why didn't I do this yesterday, then I wouldn't have to do it
today; or (iii) who invented ironing anyway? No, I made myself think positive thoughts - like how very much smaller my pile of ironing was these days, than thirty years ago. I should be able to dash it off in, say, half an hour, tops. Especially
given my somewhat cavalier approach to the smoothing iron. See what I mean? It's easy when you know how.
Now it may be that you are in the opposite position and your laundry basket is now overflowing
with school shirts and PE kits where once it contained but a few items of underwear which didn't need ironing anyway. Here's Hint Number 2 - Go Compare! Think how lucky you are to have this growing family, compared with poor, recently-retired empty-nesters
like me. It takes a bit of practice - but practice makes perfect, or so they say.
As I struggle to fold my king-sized sheets into a shape which will fit onto the ironing board I think how lucky
I am that the sheets are so snowy white! How fortunate to have a bed on which to stretch these sheets, once they have been subjected to a quick wave of the iron! I am momentarily flummoxed when I discover that the freshly washed duvet cover
has managed to attract a dirty stain of some kind - but only for a moment. What a stroke of luck that I will now have to put it back in the washing machine and wash it all over again - thus saving myself from having to iron it this afternoon and cutting down
my ironing time by at least 15 minutes!
Happiness is, of course, a state of mind. Recently Mr B and I were interviewed for something called the Labour Force Survey (ironic, really, considering
that, for the first time in over 50 years, neither of us is actually part of the Labour Force...) One of the questions we were asked was how happy we were, on a scale of 1 (being totally miserable) and 10 (being ecstatically happy.) We both, independently, said
9 out of 10 which was reassuring at this stage in our new life. I suspect the only reason we didn't say 10 out of 10 was because that would be tempting fate.
"What's your blog about today?"
Mr B enquires, cautiously. (He always gets a little nervous as posting time approaches, for fear that he will find himself with a starring role once again.) "It's about World Kindness Day," I explain, smiling at him. Kindly. Mr B considers this for all of
half a minute:
"Don't look at me!" he mutters.