Chipping Away

Chipping away at the corner, originally uploaded by Underpuppy.

I learned long ago that it was not good for me try to stay with a job, uninterrupted, from beginning to end. I generally become very anxious, for example, if I attempt to put all the clothes away when they come out of the dryer. So, I chip away. It works much better for me to just throw things on the bed, then pick up an item or two, and put them away, each time I pass through the room. How much of this is due to Bipolar Disorder, or to ADD, which I also have, is a mystery to me. Perhaps you have an insight to share about this.

A benchmark for me as to how I am doing with healing, as a matter of fact, is whether or not I am able to unload the dishwasher entirely of its clean dishes in one standing.

What a treat it is when that happens.

Lately, my husband has been doing the dishwasher tasks a lot.

A thank you to Underpuppy for sharing this picture on flickr.

Meds

I always feel encouraged when I start organizing. It seems that it may be a sign of improvement. Today, it was the medicine cabinet.

Scriptures for the Wandering Mind

I love the holy scriptures. I want them to fill my mind and heart. I am convinced that much healing comes through internalizing the word of God. Sometimes, however, my mind wanders so much, when I try to read, that I find studying an unproductive and frustrating endeavor. For times like that, I need more than the written word to keep my attention. I am thankful for resources such as the online Book of Mormon Stories. Yes, they are designed for children, but I find it very helpful to look at a picture and read the synopsis of a scripture passage, then to click on the link and go to the scripture text to read it in full. I don't know how much my need for stimulation and small bites of things is due to mental illness, and how much is due to my AD/HD, but I just know that this method works for me. Maybe it will help you, too.

Why File When You Can Pile?

This is not my desk, but it represents what my desk feels like. In this bout of illness I have managed to keep the bills paid (thank goodness for online bill paying), but I have not managed to file anything. My motto: Why file it when you can pile it? But I am not happy living with such chaos.

There is a glimmer of hope. I am beginning to imagine that I might someday (soon?) organize that pile.

Here's a tip that I heard somewhere, which I plan to try: file by month rather than by biller. Just throw everything received in May into a May file, June into a June. You can still find things, and it is much simpler than the other method. Sounds good to me.

P.S. This is pretty much what an AD/HD brain looks like. Lots of information, but a very inefficient retrieval system. At least, that has been my experience.

Thank you to this photographer for the picture.