"What it comes down to is the small things," Tim explained as we ran and puffed our way along the 15 mile route.
Catching his breath, Tim goes on, "After much suffering in silence and even angry words, it is the minor inconveniences that does us in every time."
Tim, his wife, Jan and I were training for a half*marathon race.
About 20 people in our running group all start out together early on Saturday mornings but it was us three who seem to fall into the same pace after about mile 3 .
We were neither in The Slow Group or in The Fast Group which has often been the story of my life.
Tim, Jan and I were in The Steady As She Goes Group but we always finished the race. No matter what.
Tim was a Life Coach and flew to different cities giving presentations to groups at corporate conventions. Helping people work smoothly together in spite of their differences. Building esprit de corps.
Tim was a motivator extraordinaire.
I'll say...
Whilst we moved steadily across the miles I would pick Tim's brain as it was there for the picking.
Plus, as you well know by now, I am filled with questions. Always.
What makes some move on?
What causes folks to quit their job?
Why do married people throw in the towel?
What signal tells our brain we have simply had enough?
Why do we hit the road after being in the same place for so long?
I find Longevity to be an interesting topic on many levels.
If one cannot hang in there with satisfaction, one cannot hang in there for any great distance.
In road races.
In life. And so on...
"It is the minor inconveniences that occur over and over again , day after day, that will be the end of any relationship," Tim explained.
"If every day your husband uses the scissors and does not put them back, if you ask him kindly to please put back the scissors and he does not, because after all it is such a small thing, if day after day you have to go find the scissors, eventually you just get Fed Up."
"Hunting for scissors is such a minor inconvenience.
But you get the idea. Scissors is just an example."
That day after this run I stopped at the store and bought scissors.
All kinds of scissors.
Scissors for the kitchen, for the bathrooms, for every room in the house. Years later, to this very day, I see my scissors in every room waiting.
Quiet little symbols to remind me to Pay Attention To The Small Things.
Not to cut things in two, these scissors standing at the ready, but to keep things together.
Long live your Scissors in Every Room Theory and all it represents!!
I like that you didn't sneak and have "secret" scissors, but just lots and lots for all to enjoy!!
About where I fit in the pack of life.
Me to about being in the center, and sometimes at the end. It's ok by me 100%, because in most things I pace myself and don't give up and then when I FINALLY get what I've wanted, I cherish it.
It is interesting about thinking about when a person finally says THIS IS IT!! How the brain can just cross a line and says FINIS!!!! The End, no more. And once this has happened, it's SO hard to turn back. I think it must be a protective mechanism in the brain.
Hugs and Hallelujah!! :-) to your post!
xox
Consatnce
Posted by: rochambeau | February 06, 2012 at 03:03 PM
somepink,
this is really wonderful
I am a tear-er - I tear things when possible
esp. paper, cloth
but looking for the scissors
oy!
and around here
they are often used
for the very things
that other tools were designed to do
always ready to help
we too have a collection
of scissors
they stand tall
in a pretty curvaceous way
waiting for a hand
keeping together
at the ready...
minor inconveniences
on the other hand
are what teenage gurus
and bossy but pretty dachshunds teach...
my swath of sunshine
is arriving
right on time...
steady as she goes,
xox - eb.
Posted by: eb | February 07, 2012 at 11:02 AM
So true. I only had a similar conversation with a friend not so long ago. And the main problem for relationships starts as soon as one starts to get irritated by something the other does. Once the irritation starts, it's difficult to turn that around. I'm glad you've bought so many scissors to not get irritated. Marriage/relationships need loving care like that :)
Posted by: Shin | February 07, 2012 at 04:03 PM
A rather interesting take. Funny, I too have scissors in every room ~ mostly because I can't be bothered to go from one to another when I want the scissors!
Posted by: BJ Lantz | February 07, 2012 at 04:15 PM
Fascinating concept there dear somepinkflowers girl. Scissors isn't what bugs me, but the example is so true. There are those little things, yes there are. Like leaving mail and papers laying all over the house and a belt or shoes where they don't belong for days on end. Oh what we must put up with.
Love spying your Rick Steves book for dreaming and the pretty blue bird too.
Posted by: Marilyn | February 07, 2012 at 11:44 PM
I guess we all have the "scissors"
we have turned it round to become an element of individuality and embrace it as our uniqueness...
its all a matter of perspective..
Posted by: grrlandog | February 08, 2012 at 05:02 AM