TALES FROM THE S
HIRE
Decisions, Decisions
All the school prepping isn’t in the classroom.
It involves getting sleep schedules back on track and organizing the house so that mornings go smoothly. At least that’s how it goes in my house.
I plan to have multiple outfits ready for a week or two, and lay one out each night. I also know that I will not hold to it; for I will awaken and not be be in the mood for what I’ve selected the night before. Can I explain that? No. But it is real.
Sometimes the weather changes my plan. Sometimes I remember I have somewhere to go after school and need to dress for two events. Sometimes clothes don’t fit like they did last week.
Mostly it’s that I’m just not in the mood. And figuring out what clothing mood I’m in takes up getting ready time because I have to decide not just on the clothes but what shoes will go with the newly selected outfit and if socks are necessary.
Then there are earrings to re-coordinate… Also, at breakfast I can’t just grab a mug. I must decide what mug I am in the mood for. If I’m feeling patriotic I get the flag mug. I try to let each mug invoke some positive thought or encouragement, so I often use the flag mug on Sundays to celebrate freedom of worship.
Every Saturday I drink from the one that has a 1940s looking diva in bed saying, “I dreamed my whole house was clean.” It does not inspire me as I wish it would.
There’s a 1960s fashion mug that’s best for hot chocolate. I don’t know why.
One has “Live” all over it with a quote from Oscar Wilde. “No man is rich enough to buy back his past.” It inspires me to do right.
Some days I’m in the mood for the Shakespeare mug or the one with books all over it. Those remind me of my calling to be a teacher. Then there’s the True Crime Podcasts Are My Love Language mug, complete with blood spatter art, that Grown Child gave me. I’m reminded of the blessing that neither of us have featured on such a podcast as criminal or victim.
There are inspirations on all the mugs, and I have to decide what kind of inspiration I need or am in the mood for that day. I’ve often taken a mug out, but put it back because I was not in the mood for it and needed a different one.
Decision fatigue starts with me even before I get to work.
