Is your mind a junk drawer?
Have you ever realized how similar your mind is to the household junk drawer? You just keep cramming things in there praying it doesn’t jam.
It’s a mysterious realm of the home. It holds all the random things you could ever need. The ever-elusive kitchen junk drawer is as vast and as mystifying as the intricate labyrinth of a woman's mind.
Why do we keep adding more to our plates?
Is it to have it all?
Is it so others think we have it all figured out?…when we are really drowning in our own coffee cup?
The kitchen junk drawer is a Pandora's Box of randomness.
Ah, the kitchen junk drawer. Every household has one brimming with endless possibilities. This is the only place you will find a collection of mismatched screws, batteries, a few buttons, rubber bands, sharpies, ketchup packets, and expired coupons. Within this chaos lies hidden treasures like that long-lost keychain you got on vacation, a half-used roll of duct tape, zip ties, and a couple of quarters. You roll your eyes at these things as you throw in that mystery key and think “I’ll sort this out later.”
Like most of our minds, these drawers are like uncharted territory. You never know what you will find. Those of us experiencing this world as a woman know this is a place where anything is possible. We are coasting right along, then the terrain changes, and we find ourselves navigating an intricate network of thoughts, emotions, and memories.
It's like trying to solve a Rubik's cube in the dark with one hand tied behind our back.
We are good at stuffing it all in!
You know what? That junk drawer and our mind accumulating stuff like our lives depend on it! Start with a few things (or thoughts) you want to save for later and before you know it, you're struggling to fit in that last bread clip or remember what brought you into the dining room. Remembering what you were supposed to pick up at the grocery store now needs to be on a note (hopefully it’s on your phone and that is not in the car).
Praying you can add one more thing and that the drawer doesn't get stuck, or your memory doesn't implode, isn’t sustainable.
We have to stop filling our days and minds with junk. Our minds are overflowing with hopes, dreams, and endless to-do lists. But are they necessary? Are they things we really want?
There's the career pursuit. Are you climbing the ladder you want or the one you are told is the best ladder to climb?
Is that vacation you are planning going to be restful? Or will you go non-stop and need a break when you get back?
Don’t forget about that new recipe someone told you “You just have to make.” Does it even sound good to you? (Here’s one for super yummy vegan peach cobbler if you wanna try it!!)
Mental Tetris. That is our life sometimes. We are constantly rearranging priorities and ensuring everything fits just right.
When these are things you really desire, playing Tetris is fun. If they are not, it’s a constant source of frustration and anxiety. “How do I fit this in?” becomes the chorus of your life. Is it upbeat and exciting or a little more on the emo side?
Amidst the chaos of life, we can thrive in a wealth of creativity, empathy, and passion with the right items in our drawer.
I hope you take the time to evaluate your junk drawer. Determine how much finessing is needed. Is it a delicate touch, a little jiggling, and maybe a prayer or two? Is it time to dump it out and start over?
Understanding the limits of your mind also requires empathy, patience, and an occasional willingness to chunk some things out a window. I know comparing the kitchen junk drawer to a woman's mind may seem odd, but both of these cavernous spaces are complex ecosystems filled with a delightful mishmash of randomness, hopes, dreams, and hidden treasures.
So, the next time you find yourself opening that drawer (or getting lost in your mental overload), I hope you remember this conversation.
I would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.
Peace and love,
Teresea
Photo credit: Unsplash; Lee Wright
