In my last post I wrote about looking up. But sometimes we have to look down if we want to avoid tripping into holes.
In the past month a hole in the asphalt in our carport has gradually got bigger. So much so that whenever I stepped out of my car I was worried I’d break a leg.
On the weekend hubbs got out with a wheelbarrow and shoveled two bags of cement into the hole. It’s now fixed. However, when he was shoveling we noticed that underneath it the boards were rotting. I asked him whether our carport would one day collapse. He answered, most probably. It wasn’t what I wanted to hear.
He thinks the whole carport needs new supports and structures underneath. We’re talking thousands of dollars we can’t afford right now, so the temporary fix has to do.
Now, whenever I walk outside, I have visions of finding my car and our camper gone.
Call me melodramatic but sometimes it all feels a bit symbolic.
Like my worries are compounding. Some days I feel like I’m coping, other days I feel like things are falling apart around me. And I’m not just talking concrete issues.
For now the hole is filled, and I’m grateful. Still, there’s this underlying thought that at some point things may disintegrate again. I know it’s pointless.
We deal with things as they happen.
This whole scenario reminded me of a recent post I read by Hayley, a fellow Melbournian. This poem she included particularly resonated with me:
There’s A Hole In My Sidewalk
Chapter One
I walk down the street,
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk,
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless,
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find my way out.
Chapter Two
I walk down the street,
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk,
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street,
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit …but,
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter Five
I walk down another street.
by Portia Nelson.
So I catch myself and shift my focus. We can choose the paths we walk. We can choose to focus on the brightness in front of us instead of the obstacles. We can keep our eyes on the path and meet our challenges head on.
Worrying about the future serves no purpose so I’ll simply focus on today. On making the most of each and every moment as it comes.
As a new week begins may we let the worries wash over us and not overwhelm.
May we find beauty in the ordinary and seek out moments that give us joy and happiness. Where the mundane becomes mindful.
This is in response to Jithin’s Mundane Monday Challenge – a challenge to find beauty in the ordinary. It doesn’t get more ordinary than concrete and a hole in the asphalt!
Stay safe and enjoy the journey – holes, obstacles and all.
What a great post. I really enjoyed it. Have a great week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brigid. You too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Blimey – that’s one large hole. Glad it’s safe for now – may the repairs in your own life be long lasting and the holes you face up to fixing/jumping over/walking around. Lovely post, Miriam and thank you for sharing the poem too. Loved it, walking down another street is always an option!😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks so much Annika, I always appreciate your lovely comments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post Miriam. I wish the repairs are strong and ever lasting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, me too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is great pick me up post. At least dealing with the hole this way will last for a while.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I hope so Jackie. Have a great week.
LikeLike
Best poem EVER. PS love your choice to accept the journey, potholes and all. Worrying about the future is so exhausting.
That picture with the car and camper near the hole was quite fitting. Maybe your carport will be kind and spare your means of travel! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can only hope so Jess! 🙂
And yes, I agree, worrying about the future is exhausting. No point. Hope you’re doing well today my friend. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I haven’t slept. Went to bed at midnight only to wake at 3 am. Been awake since. Boo.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that sucks! 😦 What time is it there now?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Finally fell asleep then my crazy dog started barking his head off. I think it was around 7 am awhile ago. It’s 9:20 now. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh, groan. Hope you manage to get a better night sleep tonight. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, soul sis! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely post! I like how you took us along a stressful subject then brought us back to a positive thought! 🙂 Very nice!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thanks, glad you thought so. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
One can’t go past the wisdom of Tigger
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. He was my daughter’s all time favorite character when she was younger.
LikeLike
Just as I’m going to offer some consoling words about holes and rotting boards (a thing I’m very familiar with) -I realise that we’ve moved on to more philosophical concerns! And it’s me that’s feeling consoled by your wise words!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, sorry to hear you can relate to the rotting boards saga, Marie! Not a good thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You write really well and inspire with your posts, Miriam. Have a great week ahead! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That means a lot. Thanks so much. Hope you have a great week too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, today and tomorrow. A quick glance at the horizon to fix my course and today, tomorrow again. Best to you, Miriam! xoM
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you’re saying! Cheers. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m just gonna say that I love this post. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Brenda, you’re sweet. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure as always. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great post. Love the vivid illustrations and the moral lessons drawn from the post. You write so good, Miriam! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
My pleasure, thanks for your kind words. 🙂
LikeLike
Nothing mundane about this thoughtful post
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a nice comment Derrick, thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this. You really know how to use symbols to paint a lovely picture and deepen understanding. I agree that recognizing a problem is important to fixiing the problem but you shouldn’t let the problem divert your focus.
I look forward to more of your posts. Following you now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much Sharon. Lovely to meet you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
We certainly do choose our focus, each and every day. I am also a worry wart–even when others tell me things are stable/good/fine regarding certain issues–and continue to fret, so it’s hard to not fret at times. I think trying to stay in the present is key (hard as that may be, too). 🙂 Great photos once again, Miriam. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I think that ‘worry-wart’ is my second name. But like you said, the key really is trying to stay in the moment. Hope you’re having a nice start to the week Karen. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
You too, Miriam. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, yes, we’ve been in a state of doing the best we can as things are thrown at us. We cannot afford many of the repairs and issues in our life right now… so we have to pick and choose what’s most important. Like our stove — it wasn’t a huge rush… until the oven went all crazy. I have to be able to bake! That’s pretty damn important now! (And not just for, you know, baked goods… also for some dinners!) But yeah… it’s hard knowing repairs are needed but can’t all be taken care of immediately… We must just watch our steps, I suppose!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Too true Sandra, picking and choosing what’s most important to fix and maintain is the case here too. Funny cos my oven went funny a while ago too, something electrical went wrong and it wouldn’t work for awhile but then it righted itself. It’s still kicking on …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our oven is so old… I swear it’s been here since the house was built in the 1930s. Okay, maybe not that long ago… but a long time ago. I’ve wanted to replace it since we moved in. I’m glad it’s finally died, really, because I will finally get a new one! I’ve been threatening to go at it with a sledgehammer for years… Haha 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha You made me laugh, I can just picture the headlines. “Vicious house wife bludgeons stove to its death, for want of newer model and better cookies and dinners …” 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😀 The last time I baked cupcakes, I walked away while the oven was at 325F… and when I went to see if they were done, the oven was at 450F! Oh, and we have a gas oven… so that’s a little scary!! I haven’t used the oven since… 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ouch … So I guess they were well and truly cooked cup-cakes. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thankfully, I check a little early… so they were a little dry… and the bottoms were a little dark, but the kids did not mind at all… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet they didn’t 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Mom… just add extra frosting…” 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hopefully the fix will last a while longer. Enjoy your week Miriam!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Carol, you too.
LikeLike
We truly are quite similar. This post really was thought provoking and the poem…wonderful. I did visit her page and let her know that I so too.
And Sweet Harry. ❤
Hugs to you Miriam.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thanks so much Nikki. And I’m glad you visited her page. Hugs to you too. xo 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤
LikeLike
Walking down another street not being possible right now , I’m walking around the holes 🙂
Loved your post
Turtle Hugs
LikeLiked by 1 person
Walking around them works as well! Take care Turtle. Hugs back xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess I finally got tired of falling into the same hole over and over again 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean … I can relate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Visiting Hayley right now …thanks for introducing her 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, she’s great.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The poem had a few holes in it but I liked it. 🙂 Very nice post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, thanks!
LikeLike
Great post – and how can I possibly fault the conclusion to live moment to moment?! If the carport wasn’t such a potentially expensive pain in the bum I would have joked that I holeheartedly agree with you but I won’t – just hope it all works out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Richard, I appreciate that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miriam,
The holes give us the opportunity to appreciate a different view of the world. It can be a challenge to feel whole in the presence of holes. I can certainly relate to your journey again today. Sending love and hugs! ❤️Tiffany
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thought provoking words Tiffany. Hugs back xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️
LikeLike
Another inspirational post! It’s true that we can choose to focus on the positive side of things than wallow in the negatives. Thank you for the reminder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s my pleasure. Thank you. xo
LikeLike
That’s a great way to look at things, Miriam! I’m so sorry that your worries are multiplying, and know that can sometimes seem just overwhelming. I hope that you are able to keep your focus on the good things around you, and also that you realize that through your blog and the encouraging word you routinely leave on other people’s blogs, that you are also contributing to the goodness that is in the world. You often help “light the way” for other people, and you should be proud of that, I think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, thank you so much Ann, that really means a lot. You’re always so kind and supportive yourself and I really appreciate that. Why do I have a strong feeling that we would be such great friends in real life! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have the same feeling!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shame about the ocean in between!
LikeLike
I understand what you mean. Sometimes it seems like every crappy thing that could happen comes along at the same time. How we choose to look at it does make all the difference. I hope your car port last for a good long time!
LikeLike
Thanks so much. I hope so too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. You are such an inspiration.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw, thanks Andrew, and you’re so kind!
LikeLike
Ok, here’s my take on your post: lay on the footpath photograph the hole making sure your angle is a good perspective. Dust yourself off and walk down the other street cos it might have some gorgeous old houses worthy of a shot, that someday could be used in the blog! Have a great day 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like that … definitely a different perspective. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that poem – it says so much! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree. Glad you enjoyed. xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like you always take pictures while construction is going on!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keeps the hubbs in check! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Worry is a down payment on a problem you may never have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So very true Monica. Thanks for the reminder.
LikeLiked by 1 person