Dear Girlfriends,

Steve and I are serial re-modelers. We often finish a project (or sometimes an entire house) only to move immediately on to the next room, or even the next place of shelter, to provide a little TLC (Tender Loving Construction). Because our professions rarely afford us even a small glimpse of some tangible result from our daily toil in the office, I think it's our way of feeling productive and creative. When we remodel, we actually get to see the fruits of our labor.

During our most recent make-over, this time of the master bathroom, I especially enjoyed the rapid progress of the work. Steve, being the visionary, as well as the general contractor for these projects, always looks forward to my critique of the handiwork of our craftsmen. (Not!) Yesterday, I arrived home to find that the painters had applied their magic. But.... in one tiny area, over in the corner, the paint was spread too thin.

Although the work (paint job included) was spectacular overall, in this one confined space, the work looked sloppy. It lacked the crispness and the detail that surrounded it. It wasn't as fresh. It actually looked a little worse than before. I thought I could ignore it - but when I went back to the bathroom to take in the sight of the beautiful tile work - all I could focus on was the wall peeking through the Sherwin Williams, "Rope", SW8011.

Like the paint job, I'm often spread too thin, coming across a bit sloppy - in my relationships, in my work, and in caring for myself. I'm not fresh. I'm not creative. I'm not detailed. I'm not present. I'm just a mess.

Are you over-committed, too? Uh-huh. I thought so. Let's explore the real fallout of our over-scheduled lives when we're just spread a bit too thin.

Getting out the drop cloth,
Ellen

Posted by Ellen on April 17, 2007 1:35 PM  |  Category: Spread Too Thin