Oh my word. I’m so excited about this two-second task.
Not that it only took two seconds.
But really . . . I had been putting off this TOTALLY overwhelming, TOTALLY time-consuming, TOTALLY impossible task for, ummmm, years.
Like, at least four.
Right. That pantry door hadn’t closed in at least four years.
Not that I hadn’t tried to bang it shut four times a week. Not that I hadn’t pushed on the offending shelf in those frantic moments before a party, hoping that this time it would actually make a difference.
Not that I hadn’t groaned (sometimes inwardly, sometimes audibly) over the unfairness of life that this supposed-to-be-cool shelving unit had turned into an anti-door-closing catastrophe.
Not that I hadn’t wished for some ambiguous pocket of time to appear in my world simultaneously with a burst of DIY-fix-it inspiration.
But then today, I just did it.
ALL I had to do was loosen the top part so I could slide the bottom part so it would be straight and the door would finally close.
And it did take more than 2 seconds. But less than five minutes. Less than five minutes if you don’t count the time it took to get a chair, stand upon it, and see that there was a screw in the top part that required a (really hard to find, I’ll bet!) tool.
That part happened before a friend dropped by to bring me some things.
When she left, I saw that it was 2:40. I had about 12 minutes before I needed to leave to pick up my daughter from school, so I thought I’d at least do something.
Five minutes later, I was totally done.
I knew I needed one of those special wrench thingies that I once thought were only for school desks. I know they’re often included in things we have to assemble, but I figured with all of my crazy-eyed decluttering over the past four years, there was no chance we’d still have one.
But I looked in Hubby’s toolbox anyway. Lo and behold, we had an entire set.
In all different sizes.
Who knew?
I found one that fit, got totally confused on the righty-tighty-lefty-loosey thing and finally loosened that screw enough to slide the bottom portion of the shelf in enough that the door would close.
I did a little happy dance, took my look-it-shuts after pictures, and headed to the garage to put the special wrench thingies back (Did you catch that? I put them back!!) . . . at 2:45.
For real.
I even had time to upload my pictures before I left for school pick-up.
I’m choosing to be proud that I got it done rather than beyond-irritated-with-myself for leaving it unshuttable for years upon years.
Upon years.
--Nony
Way to go! What a feeling it is… 🙂
Way to go! You inspire me!
Congratulations! Sometimes it’s the easy things that we think will take absolutely SO long that only take 5 minutes! There are things that I put off and put off and then when I finally do them I can’t believe it was accomplished so quickly! I’m so glad to know I’m not the only person who does that!
I am going to fix my towel rack and tp holder that have been irritating me for… Yikes, 8 months????!!!! Thanks!! Off to find the teensy screwdriver.
they are called either Allen Keys or Allen wrenches…we have several sets…AND YOU PUT THEM BACK…do a happy dance…your husband will be sooo happy, you fixed and put away…mine would likely faint
YAY! So proud of you! And me! I’m doing the same thing right along with you!!
Congratulations!! I am the same way! You deserve the weekend off now! No, don’t do that. This is why I find myself in these messes b/c I take the weekends off – too much!
Good job. You’ll probably be admiring that closed door for weeks now. 🙂 Did your family notice yet?
Simple, easy jobs that seem like overwhelming jobs make a huge difference, don’t they. Maybe that’s what I need to do. More of the ‘two second’ tasks. 🙂
You go, girl!!
That is so worth a happy dance – and so not worth beating yourself up over. You already know it was silly to ignore – and TODAY YOU DIDN’T IGNORE IT! Focus on that, ignore the accuser, and grin every time you close the door. 🙂
Good for you!!! I know that feeling: WhyowhyowhyoWHY didn’t I do this ages ago??? But how wonderful when it finally gets done! And kudos to you on putting your tools away. You’re getting me inspired to go take my dishwasher apart and clean it. Though believe me, it will take more than 5 minutes. And I will once again be on the rampage about needing a water softener… :/
Yeah! It’s amazing how long we can put off tasks. Like the bathroom closet…. Didn’t finish it over fall break, but I’m halfway done with it. All the towels and washcloths actually fit in there now!
WOOT! WOOT! so excited you tackled that – I know how important closed doors are at your house. But even more, I’m proud of you for getting those wrenches back where they belong!!! I really do know how huge that is.
Well done!
For some reason we seem to be irritated with ourselves for not doing a task and irritated again when we have, in fact, completed a task (for not having done so earlier).
Instead, let’s be proud of ourselves for completing it. 😊
When my kids were small, I had a sideboard-type cabinet in the dining room. There was a bib in it whose tie-strings were hanging out the door. That irritated me every time I looked at it; yet I left them that way for AGES! At the time, I had VERY little energy, and a list in my head of things with a higher priority that needed doing. I couldn’t seem to justify using that little bit of energy to get up and put them back in. Now I think how silly of me that was! It would have LITTERALY taken 2 seconds and made me feel better about my house – and myself! And I’m sure my husband would have appreciated it as well.
I’m so happy for you!!! PTL! 🙌🌈🐑🌈
Lately the mantra helping me get more done is…
Do it as completely as possible..
Not that I always do, I am pretty stubborn.
But I realized that some of my favorite non-favorite things to do are with people & organizations that just do the thing, as far as possible, with as little brain power as warranted.
Like your loading pics & putting up the wrenches.