12.13.11

Sometimes priorities aren't the items on our to-do list.


They aren't sweeping the floors or cleaning the bathroom; they aren't grading papers or finishing documents; they aren't another coat of paint or changing out the last light switch (huge gigantic thank you to my dad for coming over today and painting the basement--seriously, he rocks); they aren't sending the email that can wait until tomorrow; they aren't putting up holiday lights, or dropping off a kid somewhere, or squeezing in a workout.


Sometimes the priority starts with throwing the to-do list away.


And then you leave the paint brushes where they are, and you close the laptop, and you walk away from your desk, and put your car keys on the hook, and you sit in your favorite chair, maybe with a cup of tea, or cocoa, or wine. Maybe you decide to watch one DVR'd episode of your favorite show that hasn't been a priority. Maybe you pull out a book, or you catch up on the stack of magazines and catalogs that have been flooding your mailbox since Labor Day.


For us tonight, we raced off to the gym, desperate to not look at paint brushes or patched cracks in the basement. We pulled into the parking spot, looked at each other and said, "What are we doing?" We ran a quick mile, vented our days, scooped up Will and bolted home as fast as we could. Paninis on the sandwich press, dinner as a family, and while Will gets his bath, I'm pounding out the blog so that I can close my laptop, curl up in my chair, and just sit. Maybe with Will. Maybe with Glee. Maybe with a quiet mind.


And for the first night in a couple of weeks, this house will be peaceful. 


That's the priority.