Thursday, February 10, 2011

What I do when I'm feeling unhappy

I've realized that I have an unusual pattern when I'm feeling stressed or unhappy - I clean and organize:

Kitchen cupboards always get it first. The pantry cupboard always offers up a number of bag clips for reuse after these cleanings. This is a good thing; they're a hot commodity in this house:

I then move on to the refrigerator. Scrub, scrub, wipe, wipe:

At least my emotional upsets are productive.

I sure hope this passes quickly, though:

Otherwise, I'm actually going to have to tackle... this:

(Ohmygosh, I did not just show you that picture. Please don't tell anyone...)

41 comments:

  1. My best friend scrubs floors when she's upset; I should be as "afflicted" as you two!

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  2. I'm sorry that you're feeling either stressed or unhappy. And, I'm doubly sorry that your way of handling it is cleaning - that just feels like you're being punished! Although, it's lovely to have clean cupboards.

    I hope whatever has you blue passes quickly.

    Cheers!
    Teri

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  3. You may be feeling down but that last picture made me very happy.
    Take care Danni.

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  4. That's certainly a useful and productive way to relieve your stress. I'm sure you'll be happy and relieved you did all those. Nice cupboard too!

    Don't worry about that last bit - every household has one or a few of those places...:)

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  5. For a moment I thought this must be my upstairs closet. I only imagine it looks like yours, but there is no light to illuminate the disaster.
    So, have you cured your emotional upset or do you REALLY have to tackle the unspeakable?

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  6. Oh my gosh! You did! You showed us your messy closet. I can't believe you were that brave.
    You know what this means don't you? This means that you will have to cause yourself more stress and unhappiness just long enough to clean this closet too.
    We will want to see a "before" and "after" photo soon....

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  7. I hope you're feeling better soon. I go into that cleaning organizing mode when I'm trying to avoid doing something I know I have to do but don't really want to do. I just use the organizing to delay the inevitable.

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  8. Actually, it's not unusual. Unhappiness is often caused by the feeling of being out of control, which is also one of the great constant stressors in life. Studies have shown that people in positions of power, i.e., more control, live longer lives than people who have little power, or little control over their lives, and experts believe it's the stress that having little to no control over your life that shortens the lives of people with little power. And it's interesting that the degree of control versus the length of life is on the same sliding scale- the numbers overwhelming favor greater numbers of people in positions of power, which is reduced as you go down the scale of power; less power, shorter life span.

    I would venture to guess that organizing your cupboards makes you feel more in control of things, which would make you feel better about a lot of things.

    But leave that closet for another time. Unless, of course, it makes you feel better.

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  9. When you get done with your cleaning at your house, can you come over to mine. I have a lot of organization that needs to be done. I need to take a page from your book and clean instead of eating.

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  10. lol
    I get the organizing bug every now and then, though I don't think I ever get in the mood to clean the fridge.

    ...there are scary things evolving in my fridge...

    And doesn't it feel really good after all that organizing!

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  11. LOL, I do the same thing. Go ahead, tackle that. It'll make ya feel better.

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  12. Ha! I suffer from the same affliction. Just toss in a little insomnia.

    wv: garmop; the type of mop needed to tackle that closet.

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  13. I am sure I won't be alone here with this comment but could you bring your organizational skills to MissouREE, specifically my house. I do hate though that you are feeling unhappy/stressy. When I feel a cranky or sad coming on I need to be outside under the Oaks which has not been possible lately. Those clippie thingies. They go missing like socks in the dryer.

    And Danni! Go Cardinals!

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  14. Jenny in MN (now in AZ)February 11, 2011 at 5:35 AM

    I used to use that odd energy from being down or upset to clean also!

    I like that last picture. It is a glimpse of being 'real'.

    I have found getting donkey hugs and giving the horse and donkey a massage helped me get out of any kind of funk. My guys were especially fond of belly scratching. And right above the tail massage and scratches. Their 'sigh' of contentment would make my heart smile again. When I would pause during a 'donkey massage', Paco (our donkey) would flip his head toward his back and point with his nose to the area he wanted more attention to and then look up at me like...well? I couldn't help but smile from this communication from him. Worked on me every time...I couldn't resist such a cute request!

    Hope you find your happy feeling again soon and thanks for sharing. I like your cabinets! the nice roll out drawers...ah...jealous. :)

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  15. lol.
    *hugs* :)
    Have a good weekend!

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  16. I didn't see anything!

    Good luck . . .

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  17. I'm sorry you're not feeling better but at least you are productive when you're feeling down! I sleep.

    I hope you're smiling and laughing again, SOON!

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  18. Oh oh, what's got you down in the dumps?
    We have the same bag clips here and they come in handy for so many things.
    Sorry, but had to laugh at the closet pic. Quick, shut the door and it will go away! Well, that is until you open the door again.
    Hugs.

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  19. I wish I were so productive during blue periods.
    Closets and pantries are the worst to tackle. Profoundly messy before you find your way back to clean.
    I hope this time passes for you. Spring is just around the corner and things will look brighter then.

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  20. SSSShhhhhhhhhhhhhh. your secret is safe with me. The Olde Bagg

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  21. Your "messes" are more organized than my "clean"!

    I had a dream last night that had you in it. Not a lot of details that I remember right now, but it definitely had you in it, so you must have been on my mind. Weird, huh? We should talk via email sometime. Hoping you're feeling better soon.

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  22. You could come here. The barn needs cleaning.

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  23. It makes perfect sense to me. Cleaning and organizing are things you have some control over. As a fellow neatnik, I totally get this. *smile*

    It is my sincere wish for you that your closet remains in a state of disarray for some time to come. *smile*

    Blessings,
    Carolynn

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  24. I only wish I had the same impulse when I'm feeling unhappy! I love the pull outs in the first pic. Absolutely great idea.

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  25. I can get an amazing amount of work done when i am angry! OR if i am expecting company....Don't worry about the closet-i can top that easily! ;)

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  26. Let's hope your mood improves. I have always found it impossible to visit the goats without leaving with a smile. Maybe you need to go give Pete and Reggie a quick visit? A goat wagging his tail at 78 rpm's is a happy sight indeed.

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  27. Don't we all have a cupboard or a draw like this... and no you will not be seeing mine :D
    LiBBiE in Oz

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  28. I won't tell a soul, and don't worry I've got spaces just like that, I'll share too so ya don't feel to bad about it. Oh and a BIG ((HUG))xx

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  29. I agree with Carolynn. I hope your closet remains in disarray. Primarily b/c it would mean your blues are passing. And that really is the main reason. But selfishly, it would make me feel much better about the disorganization in my own closets (and bedroom, and den, and kitchen, and....) :)

    Hang in there! You've got lots of folks rootin' for ya!

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  30. I keep viewing this in hopes to get motivated! Thanks!

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  31. I love this post--makes me feel very normal :)
    I saw your question on my post this week about the kunekune--I don’t know why my search isn’t working too well but they are awesome pigs. You would LOVE them. They are so people friendly-they love us so much and they dont’ root in the dirt--which was a big reason I was interested. AFter having them--I am in love. We are starting our breeding program and hope to have our first littler this year--if you are interested in a piglet--I will keep you posted. Google kunekune and you will learn so much about these great pigs from New Zealand :)

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  32. Oh, I can so relate! Keep your chin up Danni!

    p.s. I thought about you this morning when our farrier was here and I was cupping Fergus's eyes with my hands.

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  33. Danni, by the looks of my house you would say that I haven't been in a bad mood for a long time!! I'll try to plan it soon cause my house is a MESS!!!

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  34. Reminds me of how I clean my taxi...AND a great idea for a post about it !! LOl ..Danni, that house is a DREAM here in /nyc !!

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  35. Oh boy do I appreciate this post. Rather than a room I have an entire storage unit that looks like this. I have to tackle it this spring. I hope I "catch" your cleaning bug!!!
    Staci

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  36. I don`t know why but I fell in love with the photo you have in the blogheader :)

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  37. I get cleaning when your stressed, been known to do it myself... I like you figure at least something good comes from the stress then!

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  38. Organizing makes me feel better too. When things are mixed up inside, it helps to bring order to external chaos.

    And I LOVE that door!!!

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  39. I'm glad I'm not the only one who does this when I'm not feeling myself!

    Love your blog!

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  40. you and Mom! And now me too! Something about cleaning or taking a brisk walk makes me able to just release whatever has got me all worked up so that I can think cleary about it.

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