I miss the days of working in the office with you know, other people. But not because I want to go back to the unproductive days of running meetings all day. At least now I can pretend to listen when I’m working from home on a video call…in my gym shorts. No, I miss working from the office because when I was at the office I couldn’t witness the madness of what happens in my home when I’m not here. The piles upon piles of towels in my son’s bedroom. The way the sink is just stacked with dirty cereal bowls while the dishwasher is all alone and empty. The kicker is the tipped over box of cheez-it crackers on the island while two innocent [and wonderful] children stare at their devices for hours on end. Getting off work I at least had a 30-minute drive to unwind in the car. Lately, I’m listening to a lot of old school Outkast records and I just want to crank it with the windows down.
Now, when I get off work I get to unwind for 3 seconds as I walk from my new office to the kitchen only to expect to enter a clean area and sit on my beautiful chair and watch the terribleness better known as the evening news with David Muir. Instead, I do the dishes (I know I need to pull my weight around here) so I don’t complain. That is until I enter the living room and find granola bar wrappers on the floor. Then I explode. I’m sorry, I never said I was perfect.
I guess I have too high of expectations but when I think of it. I never tell anyone my expectations, I just hope for them. The result is always the same….anger. Maybe you can relate or maybe you live in a fantasy world where things are perfect (side note, where do you live I would like to know?). It’s not justifiable to get angry with someone for doing something you never told them they can’t do. In this case, I do tell my kids to pick up after themselves, I just have to wait because they’ll “get to it later!!!!!!!”
It reminds me of inefficiencies in the world. For example, I run into a problem around the house or even worse I run into a problem with my roof. I expect to get the best quote and not have to witness the salesman’s song and dance. I expect the yard to be picked up when they’re done installing it. I just expect a great experience. But for some reason I’m always angry. Shouldn’t it be easier?
I want my contractor to tell me exactly what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it. I want a contractor that exceeds my expectations. I want to come home and BOOM, it’s just done. That way I can sit in my chair and unwind in peace.
Doesn’t really seem like too much to ask for.
