I looked, she looked, we kept searching. It must be here, I will look harder, this is ridiculous, I am not trying hard enough. The heat of frustration taking over, fuelled by the cranky rumblings in my tummy. “Let’s grab some lunch and come back to this later.”
Refreshed we returned to the 500 piece puzzle, and there it was, smack, bang in front of me. That crazy jigsaw piece, that had somehow been my nemesis earlier today.
I awoke to the messages, the tweets all confirming my problem. “I want to comment on your last post and there is nowhere to do it.” Aaggghhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I DONT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT.
I buried myself in the backend of my website, clicked this, flicked this, stared a lot. Then I Googled, I read, I Googled all day. I visited the same forums and the websites over and over again, somehow hoping the answer would be there the next time. Hot tears, it got late, I will try again tomorrow.
Google again and the same answers appear, the ones that don’t work, the same path I stomped down late last night.
I was going away, a few days with kids and friends. No laptop, no Google, no looking for answers.
I came home last night and checked on my problem, yes it was still there in all its painful glory.
I Googled a new question and lo and behold a new answer appeared, right there on my screen. This could not be true. I read through the steps, I followed them carefully and then wowza my comment form miraculously appeared.
Just like the jigsaw my answer was there, blocked by my frustration and my brain continuing to search for a different answer in all the same places.
I began to notice more of this happening in life, the repetitive actions we take even though they do not produce an outcome we desire.
The processed and nutritionally hollow foods we eat and the exercise classes we miss, when we most want to feel healthy and energised.
Endlessly repeating ourselves when asking our children to do something, and yet expecting them to act promptly the next time we ask.
The late nights and obsessive work hours, leaving us tired and drained when in fact we seek rejuvenation and renewal.
The hours we lose on social media when we most desire intimate connections with friends and family.
The partner we stay with whose cheating has eroded all trust, and yet we most want to be loved and respected.
The patterns we are in, the behaviours we repeat, the obligations we indulge, the ongoing search for happiness in the places we know it has never been found before.
The behaviours we doggedly repeat in the mistaken belief the next time will deliver the result we want.
It is when I slow down, step back, and exist in the stillness and the quiet that I am truly able to examine my path. The one I am currently on, the direction I am heading and the results I am getting through the choices I am making.
Then I ask the question…….Is all this leading to my most desirable life?
Are you too close, too busy, too stuck in a pattern, to truly see the path to your own desires?
Hi karen, I love that quote from Einstein. It’s amazing how often we get stuck in an old pattern of behaviour… You make a very good point that we need to step back to quietness and a different place to get some perspective. I usually have to go for a long run, but so often I forget that it helps!
Corlie when I am stuck I too forget what can help. Stillness or the opposite a bike ride or long walk for me. I might stick that quote on my pin board for a while.
This is beautiful.
And I remember being the ones who really wanted to comment on your post. Any kind of blog problems – with comments, loading, server down, etc. make me insane. I spend hours upon hours and I won’t rest until it’s all fixed.
I’m like that with many things, actually..
Yes Tamara the techie website issues send me in circles for hours too. This one in particular was driving me crazy and yet I kept on trying the same solutions, crazy huh!
Delighted to know I can post a comment again. Well done you! Fixing it after trying and trying and trying.
My writing is rather like that. Sometimes I just cannot find the words and I stomp away in frustration. More often than not I’ll come back to it and the words flow.
Kelly thanks for being part of my cheer squad helping to get my comments back, I needed it. I get stuck for word too and then as soon as I jump in the shower or start cooking dinner whammo they flow again.
Routine absolutely can get in the way, I’ve lived it, seen it, and seen the great results that happen when you step back and allow yourself to find the right path for change.
Yes the step back, it does me wonders.
So glad you got that fixed!! It’s maddening when technology hinders our creativity instead of helping!
Kristen so so true, it was maddening and frustrating all ok now.
The familiar path isn’t always the best one, as Karenmain.com.au wisely points out. Sometimes, the journey off the beaten track leads to the most rewarding destinations. Embrace new adventures and experiences along the way!