April 20, 2004

    If I could impart one bit of wisdom that I have gleamed over the last twenty-eight years, it would be this:

Infrastructure is the key.

    Nothing happens without infrastructure.  Civilization comes to a halt without its supply lines and public works.  Life is the same way.  Without a solid infrastructure, everyday life becomes consumed by the details of surviving--or worse--reacting.  Laundry lies in dirty heaps, and life comes to a halt while you search for something to wear.  Bills go unpaid, and life comes to a halt while you assess and repair the damage.  Meals go unprepared, and life comes to a halt while you scramble to fix something, only to realize that you have run to the store.  The devil is in the details, and he will ensnare you, if you are not prepared.

    It is for these reasons that I took last Monday off from my internship to clean the house.  It was that important.  From here on out, the house is clean.  And the house remains clean, because dishes aren't left lying around overnight, and dirty clothes aren't strewn around the floor.  Dishes are done after dinner, and the dishwasher is run before bed.  Laundry is continually moved along the cleansing cycle, and put away.  Mail is brought in every day, and opened, filed, shredded, or recycled. Dinner is planned, at least a couple days in advance.  But if it's not, it can be improvised, because the pantry and freezer are stocked with the staples. 

    I came to a sort of crossroads in my life last Monday, I think.  I'm a drastic person like that, sometimes.  I drew a mental line between the way things have been, and the way things are going to be.  And I stepped over it.

    In the last week I've discovered that my housekeeping routine--my infrastructure--is strong enough that if I am given a clean house, I will keep it clean with little or no conscious effort.  I can cope, gracefully.  My default is not to stress or whine or procrastinate, but to cope.  I can, without any great effort, thoroughly kick the crap out of every day life--and I fully intend to.