Let me tell you a story about my coffee pot. It was a nice, fancy coffeemaker. Programmable. Thermal carafe. Sleek and pretty. Not long after the warranty expired, so did the electrical system. It still worked, but if the thing was plugged in, it was making coffee -whether there was any water in it or not. It made an audible spark whenever I plugged it in. It was like an extra jolt with my morning caffeine to make sure I was really awake in the mornings. It worked though, and so I held onto it. One day I dropped the plastic lid to the carafe and the spout broke. It would pour, but it was slow as molasses unless you held it just so. Have you ever tried to do anything just so before you’re fully awake? It still pretty much worked, and so I held onto it. A few months ago the bottom of the carafe literally fell out. It didn’t work anymore, and so I threw it out. In the meantime, I started using my little french press instead.
The french press was a Christmas gift a couple of years ago. I love it so much. The coffee tastes better. I love the process of making coffee in a french press. Somehow it feels more intentional, special. I found myself not missing the coffeemaker at all. I didn’t miss the fear that one day it would be the cause of an epic house fire (and eventual divorce … if I burnt the house down over a cup of coffee Mike would never be able to let that one slide). I didn’t miss the mornings when I would curse because I forgot to buy new coffee filters. I didn’t miss it taking up precious space on my counter top. Still, I felt like I should have a coffeemaker. Good hostesses offer coffee. Well-stocked kitchens have certain appliances, including a trusty coffeemaker. I’ve never not had one. I looked for a replacement carafe. My mother gave me a new coffeemaker for Christmas. I looked at the box for a long time, but never unpacked it.
The coffeemaker was not working for me. I returned it and upgraded to a beautiful silver thermal french press. I adore it. It works for me.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what’s working for me and what simply is not. So many of my processes and things that I’ve been doing aren’t working for me anymore.
I’ve been trying to follow Flylady’s cleaning routines faithfully for more than 8 years now and they just haven’t clicked. Eight years I’ve been trying to do something that isn’t jiving with how I function as a homekeeper and yet I’ve persisted because so many people swear by it. I think I’ll give this a go instead.
I’ve been holding myself to this rigid menu planning system because it’s supposed to make our lives easier and save us money. So many weeks I’ve pushed off going to the grocery store when we desperately need it because I haven’t planned the menu yet. Instead we end up eating out or grumbling at the fridge, all because I’m holding on to a routine that’s not working for me. I think I’ll try this instead.
In the last two years I’ve been spending more time and energy trying to make this blog more professional and to some extent, profitable. I’ve redesigned, looked into advertising, cared about SEO, pursued sponsored posts, taken on more reviews, tried to plan content and write ahead. Some of that has worked, but most of it feels wrong. I kept at it because that’s how you’re supposed to blog – if you want your passion for writing to translate into something tangible and of value. If your numbers aren’t up and you’re not making any money, what’s the point, right? I write posts in my mind that are so personal and meaningful, but never show them to you because they don’t fit in the “posting schedule,” or I’ve already committed to having sponsored post X go live on that day. I’ve lost my love for sharing myself on here, and that’s not working for me. I apologize if I’ve lost some of you along they way. Will I never, ever do a sponsored post or review again? Of course not. But I will be ever so particular from now on I think I’ll try not thinking so much instead.
My coffee tastes better than ever. My Flylady binder is in the trash. I planned a couple of meals and it didn’t require an elaborate flow chart. I wrote what was on my heart, not what will earn me $50. And I included some pictures of my kids with the Martin’s chickens, because even if they have absolutely nothing to do with these words they make me happy. And that works for me.
Here, There & Everywhere